A Christmas Wish

Harvey Norman Liverpool recently played the role of Santa for a very ill little boy who had a simple Christmas wish.

On being diagnosed with a brain tumour last October, seven-year-old Alan Ryan was rushed to Westmead Children’s Hospital - for specialist surgery - by a Telstra Child Flight helicopter.

Following surgery, and against all odds, the Bathurst boy showed his fighting spirit and is now staying at Westmead's Ronald McDonald House.
When Telstra Child Flight staff heard that a Nintendo DSi was at the top of Alan's Christmas wish list, they approached Harvey Norman's Rodney El Hindi who readily donated the gaming machine as well as a Scribblenauts game.

Needless to say, Alan was thrilled with his new game!

“Alan hasn’t stopped playing with his new toy, which is the envy of his siblings," commented Telstra Child Flight’s fundraising and event co-ordinator Teri White. "Telstra Child Flight thanks Harvey Norman Liverpool for helping to make a sick little boy a little happier at Christmas.”

Helping Our Mates In Need

Myer, Harvey Norman, Harvey Norman Franchisees & Suppliers gave a helping hand at the Premier's Flood Appeal - at the Mates in Need Fundraiser, held last night at Tedder Ave - with a donation of a minimum $750,000.


Harvey Norman's Managing Director, Katie Page, commented: "Like everyone, we have been desperate to help as the floods have taken hold in the towns and suburbs of Queensland. Myer stores and Harvey Norman franchises employ over 4,000 people in Queensland - that's 4,000 families that are either directly or indirectly impacted by the floods.

The clean-up and the healing have only just begun, so we know that first and foremost what will help the flood victims is cash.

As of this afternoon we have raised a minimum of three quarters of a million dollars and the money will keep coming over the course of the Tedder Ave fundraiser tonight with all money raised going to the Premier's Flood Appeal."

Bernie Brookes, Myer Chief Executive Officer, added: “This disaster still unfolding in Queensland is something we will never forget. Many of our customers are distressed and suffering significant hardship and over 20 of our team members have lost their homes.

Part of our efforts will also go towards helping re-establish the households of our impacted team members as quickly as possible.

We hope that the contributions of Myer and Harvey Norman along with our customers, team members and suppliers will go some way to helping those impacted by the devastating floods.”

The Kindness of Strangers

After having his laptop stolen last year, a 15-year-old male student of Lithgow High School's special education unit recently received a very welcome gift from an unexpected source. On reading of the teenager's plight in the local newspaper, Harvey Norman Lithgow's Jason Hines demonstrated that the community spirit is alive and well, by giving the boy a brand new laptop computer.
Nice one, Jason! Who says happy endings are only in fairy tales?

The Long and The Short Of It

ATTENTION: Rugby league fans! The much anticipated 64-player shortlist revealing the possible candidates for coach Wayne Bennett's team - to play in the 2011 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars match - has been announced!

Now that Stage One of the selection process is complete, the voting process will be much tougher with fans having to vote for only one player from each club.

“You only have to look at the players who missed out to realise just how competitive the voting process is, " commented NRL Chief Executive, David Gallop.

Don't miss out on making YOUR selection! Stage Two voting opens at Midday AEDT (11:00am Queensland time) January 3rd at www.nrl.com/allstars and closes January 27th.

With results of Stage One finalised, the top 5 voted players are as follows:
1. Nathan Hindmarsh - Parramatta Eels

2. Josh Dugan - Canberra Raiders
3. Sam Burgess* - South Sydney Rabbitohs
4. Todd Carney - Sydney Roosters
5. Jarryd Hayne - Parramatta Eels
* Sam Burgess has been withdrawn from voting due to injury.

To view the complete 64 player shortlist, head to nrl shortlist

Snap-Happy Santa

We all know that Santa Claus is coming to town but what patients at Coffs Harbour Base Hospital didn't know was that Saint Nick would be paying them a special bedside visit - accompanied by his cheery Harvey Norman Photography team!
Organised by the Harvey Norman social club, the visit saw Santa handing out colouring sets to very excited junior patients and posing for photographs with them.
According to Harvey Norman Coffs Harbour computer franchisee Liz Jones, Santa provided the patients with a healthy dose of Christmas cheer.
 "Nurses told us there was a great buzz in the hospital that afternoon, with patients telling their visitors Santa had been to see them."

All Star Attraction

 Parramatta Eels captain Nathan Hindmarsh is leading the pack, thus far, when it comes to attracting the most votes for the NRL All Stars Team. The first player to be selected for the team will be the player who receives the most votes in one position.

After the first stage of voting ends - Tuesday, December 28th - an initial 64 player shortlist comprising two forwards and backs from each club will be announced.

The second stage of voting, commencing January 3, will see the Aussie public selecting one player from each of the 16 NRL clubs.

Does fan favourite Nathan Hindmarsh make your squad?

To vote for your favourite NRL All Star player, head to http://www.nrl.com/repgames/allstarsvoting/tabid/10972/default.aspx before time runs out!

Don't miss out on your tickets for the 2011 Harvey Norman All Stars match, visit http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=ALLSTARS11

Making Waves

Harvey Norman Noarlunga franchisee Anthony Phillips has saved the day for two young lifesavers whose dreams of competing in the upcoming surf lifesaving season were dashed.

South Port nippers Allana Campbell and Taylah Eastwood 's hopes of participating in surf lifesaving events were destroyed when their prized boards were stolen from the Port Noarlunga South clubhouse. Upon reading of Allana and Taylah's plight in the local paper, Anthony generously offered to finance new boards to be made in time for the Port Elliot surf carnival. Looks like surf's up, after all, for the talented twosome!