A couple of Clown Doctors were in Cobar yesterday as part of their bringing smiles and laughter tour to regional and remote areas.
Clown Doctors normally help sick children in hospital and their families through scary and tough circumstances.
Recently they decided to head off on tour to get an idea of what it’s like to travel several hours to visit a clinic, GP or get to a hospital, which is the reality of many families in regional areas.
The Clown Doctors on Tour have brought their magic not only to Cobar and the western area but also to other NSW regional areas along with Victoria and Queensland.
Doctors Kerfuffle, O’Dear, Boogie, Snooze, Popoff and Okey-Dokey packed their bags, red noses and every joke in the book into their Clowns Doctors Van for this tour.
Dr Boogie and Dr Snooze paid a visit to the Ngalii preschool yesterday afternoon.
Established in 1997, the Clown Doctor
program is provided by The Humour Foundation, an Australian charity dedicated to bringing the health benefits of humour to the community.
David Symons, Artistic Director of The Humour Foundation, said the aim of Clown Doctors was inject hope and happiness into the lives of sick children.
“International research shows that laughter has both physiological and psychological benefits in recovery.
“It has a positive effect on the heart rate and blood pressure, helps the immune system, and reduces pain and stress.
“It also creates bonds between people and helps them cope with difficult situations,” Mr Symons said.
Clown Doctors work in partnership with medical professionals to divert children during painful procedures, calm and distract in emergency, and improve the wellbeing of sick and injured kids.
By parodying the hospital routine with jokes, songs, magic and play, Clown Doctors engage kids at their bedside and help them to adapt to hospital life.
‘Red-nose’ transplants, ‘cat’ scans and funny bone examinations are all part of the show.
With generous support from the Moose Toys Foundation, Clown Doctors has been able to get the tour on the road.
Moose Toys’ Belinda Gruebner said she is “excited to see our mutual desire to support regional Australia come to life in the form of this tour”.
