The ClubGRANTS program supports numerous community organisations across NSW that cover a wide range of care and help, one of which is the Little Wings Children’s Hospital Flight Program.

Under its 2023 ClubGRANTS Fund, Cessnock Leagues Club donated $10,000 to Little Wings to support its work for families in regional NSW who have the need for specialist health services for their children from long distances away from major NSW centres.

Little Wings makes between 18 and 30 missions weekly to Cessnock Airport, where children needing specialist care and their families are transported by road to John Hunter Children’s Hospital in Newcastle.

“It is a wonderful initiative and the Club is proud to provide this help,” Cessnock Hospitality Group president Bruce Wilson said.

Little Wings CEO Clare Pearson said the organisation relies on community support such as the ClubGRANTS program.

Ms Pearson said last year’s donation from Cessnock Leagues Club enabled Little Wings to provide direct support to five families from rural and regional NSW with trips to and from John Hunter Children’s Hospital, flying in and out of Cessnock Airport; plus road transport for three local families from Cessnock to John Hunter Children’s Hospital.

“Little Wings heavily rely on the support of the community to keep us in the air and honouring the commitments made to families in need; helping them in times of their greatest vulnerability,” Ms Pearson said.

“The grant provided by Cessnock Leagues Club allowed Little Wings to respond promptly to referrals for the local area and to adequately support the healthcare system.

“We are deeply grateful for the support and can confirm that the support has been warmly accepted and appreciated by the benefiting families.

“Little Wings is a service for the community and made possible by the community, we could not provide the volume of service we do without the incredible support of the club and our volunteers.

“We would like to extend our deepest thanks for the support of Cessnock Leagues Club and the local community; your impact is felt deeply by those we assist.”

Picture: Little Wings pilot Tien Wooi with Elizabeth Hall, 3, of Inverell and her mother Sharon, pictured at the launch of Little Wings’ Cessnock base in May 2023.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Check out the video from Little Wings’ Cessnock base launch below. https://www.facebook.com/LittleWingsAustralia/videos/1761332987597053