By ALESHA CAPONE
TWO Melbourne celebrities helped a charity launch its national winter appeal at St Albans Heights Primary School last week.
Fox FM breakfast host Jo Stanley and children’s author Andy Griffiths attended the event and made speeches before a rapt audience of more than 230 pupils.
The Smith Family’s Victorian general manager, Anton Leschen, also spoke at the launch.
Mr Leschen said the Smith Family hoped to raise $3.43 million by the end of July, to help more than 10,000 disadvantaged Australian children.
He said at St Albans Heights Primary School, around 60 pupils are on scholarships from The Smith Family.
After his speech, Mr Leschen spoke to Star about the charity’s work in Brimbank.
“We target St Albans Secondary College, this school and other feeder schools, because we try to make a big impact in compact areas,” he said.
“The area represents the reality of disadvantage in Australia and a community where people are working to make things better.”
When Ms Stanley addressed the St Albans Heights Primary School pupils, she spoke about meeting stars including singer Justin Bieber, band One Direction and pop sensation Lady Gaga on ’The Matt and Jo Show’ – which elicited much excitement among the crowd of students.
Ms Stanley said she liked helping people as part of her job, but as a child never dreamed she would be on the radio.
“When I was at school, no-one told me I could follow my dreams,” Ms Stanley told her young fans.
“Dream as big as you want.”
Mr Griffiths, who has penned several successful books such as ’The Day My Bum Went Psycho’, entertained the youngsters with fantastical tales about dinosaurs, monsters under the bed and elderly ladies on motor scooters.
“I’ve learned everything I know pretty much from reading books,” he said.
Donate to The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal by visiting www.thesmithfamily.com.au/winter or calling 1800 024 069.
