Bears and bubs are set to take over The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital at Buderim when the annual Teddy Bear Fair is hosted on campus from 9am – 1pm on Sunday 21 May 2017.
The free community event aims to celebrate Buderim babies and children everywhere and will feature a range of exciting activities, displays, prizes, entertainment and tours.
Local mum, Margaret Cochran from Buderim, attended the inaugural event in 2016 and is planning on attending the fair again with her three year-old son, Matthew, who was born at the hospital in 2013, together with her three older children.
“I love the whole concept of celebrating children and think it is a unique opportunity to reflect on the birth and growth of my family in such a fun and welcoming atmosphere,” Ms Cochran said.
“I feel very proud and sentimental returning to the hospital with Matthew as I remember the love and joy I experienced welcoming him into the world and having the opportunity to see all the people and places that were part of that memory is very special,” she said.
The day’s festivities will include activities from the Australia Zoo team, performances by children’s entertainers Brett Campbell and Larrikin Puppets, as well as Jamie Dunn and Agro who will be there to read a popular children’s story and get kids up and dancing.
For community members thinking about having a baby, the Teddy Bear Fair is their day to find out more about the hospital’s comprehensive range of maternity services. There will be opportunities to speak with midwives and obstetricians, and tours through the maternity ward will depart every 30 minutes.
There will also be a fully equipped Teddy Bear Hospital ready to patch up a favourite loved toy, as well as a petting zoo, face painting, and a picnic and colouring-in area.
The Teddy Bear Fair’s mascots are two Buderim bears, Elsa and Wilson, who are named after Mrs Elsa Wilson, a local GP’s wife who dreamed of building the hospital in the 1970s. The street where the hospital is situated, Elsa Wilson Drive, is also named in her honour.
Wallis Westbrook, General Manager of The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital, encouraged the community to come along and support the event.
“We are excited to hold this community event and would like to welcome old, new and future members of our Buderim baby family along for a great day,” he said.
“Our passionate team of experienced doctors and midwives has helped deliver more than 13,000 babies and we are proud to continue our long tradition of providing expert care during this momentous time in people’s lives,” he said.
The event will be held on The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital’s campus at 12 Elsa Wilson Drive, Buderim. Car parking is free. For more information about the event or to purchase a teddy bear, visit sunshinecoasthospital.com.au/teddy.
The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital has been serving the community since 1980 and is part of UnitingCare Health - one of the largest not-for-profit private hospital groups in Queensland.