Inspired by attending their first Winter Solstice event, siblings Eva, Elka and Jensen Ault-Connell decided to keep the light shining and raise money for Lifeline.
Border Cafe caught up with the trio, aged 10, 7 and 5 when they handed over the funds they raised through a cake stall to Lifeline Albury Wodonga.
On the evening of Thursday 21 June the Ault-Conell children joined their mum, Paralympian Eliza, dad, Keiran and hundreds of others to listen to stories, poetry and songs at the sixth Winter Solstice event organised by Survivors of Suicide and Friends.
The evening included guests founder of the Love Your Sister foundation, Samuel Johnson, former NRL player, Ian Roberts; poet, Les Murray; journalist, Tim Elliott; crossword maker, David Astle, The Northern Folk and Solstice Trio.
“you’re never too young to start to think about giving.”
“We really didn’t know very much about it, but mum explained to us what it was about. We know about Lifeline because we take our birthday money to the shop and buy our presents from there,” Eva said.
It took the trio about a week to decide on what they would do to raise some money for charity.
“We decided on a cake stall because everyone likes cakes. I served the Chai tea, Elka sold the muffins and Jensen helped. We wanted to help the homeless,” Eva said.
They set up the cake stall outside their home and sold 30 blueberry muffins, a tray of lemon slice and two pots of Chai tea.
General Manager of Lifeline, Chris Pidd, said he wanted to highlight the gesture to show that giving is always welcomed, regardless of the amount.
“We were just so delighted to accept this donation, but more-so to show that you’re never too young to start to think about giving.”
Mum, Eliza said the children are planning to hold more cake stalls with others from the neighbourhood.
“We started the tradition a few years ago of encouraging the kids to spend their birthday money in the Lifeline shop and they now get very excited at not only what they can buy for their money, but that they are helping others.”
Lifeline Albury Wodonga, 429 Wilson Street, Albury
Lifeline Counselling 13 11 44
