{"id":1544,"date":"2011-12-28T01:37:43","date_gmt":"2011-12-27T14:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.rch.org.au\/inthenews\/?p=1544"},"modified":"2015-04-29T13:55:32","modified_gmt":"2015-04-29T03:55:32","slug":"santa-and-the-mfb-bring-christmas-to-the-rch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.rch.org.au\/news\/santa-and-the-mfb-bring-christmas-to-the-rch\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa and the MFB bring Christmas to the RCH"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Santa visits patient Sten Christmas. Photo courtesy of the Herald Sun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) escorted Santa for the 83rd consecutive year to The Royal Children\u2019s Hospital (RCH) on Christmas morning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

And he didn’t disappoint.\u00a0 Around 150 patients were thrilled to hear\u00a0Santa’s “Ho Ho Ho” as he delivered presents.\u00a0 For some, it was their first ever visit from the man in the red suit.<\/p>\n

The tradition began at the hospital in Pelham Street, Carlton in 1928 when firemen took Santa to visit another fireman\u2019s child in hospital.\u00a0 This was the beginning of the \u2018Once A Year Club\u2019 with doctors and fire-fighters as members.<\/p>\n

Over the years the visit has become a family affair with the fire-fighters joined by their families (dressed as clowns) and MFB musicians.<\/p>\n

Santa\u2019s visit this year was extra special as it was his first to the new<\/em> RCH.\u00a0 He arrived with his MFB entourage in a convoy of\u00a0new and antique fire trucks decorated with tinsel, horns blaring, lights flashing and sirens sounding.<\/p>\n

The crew danced to Christmas carols beside the huge Christmas tree in Main Street as patients and staff watched from the overhead link passages.<\/p>\n

Santa was then given special instructions to ensure he successfully navigated his way around the new hospital,\u00a0spreading Christmas\u00a0cheer to every patient.<\/p>\n

The morning concluded with the annual Christmas sing-a-long competition between the MFB and RCH staff.\u00a0 While the jury’s still out as to who won, it was clear the Christmas spirit was alive and well at the RCH this year.<\/p>\n

Read the Herald Sun’s coverage of Christmas Day at the RCH here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Photo Gallery<\/strong><\/p>\n

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