Magic John's story

"Magic John" recently hung up his Starlight volunteer shirt after 22 years of bringing happiness to sick kids in the Starlight Express Room at The Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick.

"I used to be a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. At a meeting I met a fellow called Paul who was very good friends with Captain Starlight. I hadn't heard of Starlight Children's Foundation. He told me all about himself and about Starlight and ended up asking me if I would do a magic show at what was then called Randwick Children's Hospital.

I agreed and gave the show on the stage in the Starlight Express Room. I was very impressed with the whole place and agreed to do another show a month later. Another show followed and another and another. I became a vollie and the rest is history. I used to call myself Miraculous Magic John but the kids just called me Magic John so I dropped the Miraculous and simply became "Magic John."

I have so many magic moments. Probably the best was with a little boy who had cancer and loved my tricks. He would follow me around whenever I came in, his name was Sean. One day I stopped seeing him. I was very sad and assumed the worst.

Years later I was out shopping, and I heard a cry, "Magic John, Magic John!" It was Sean wearing his Cubs uniform, fully healthy, shopping with his Mum. I've bumped into him and his mum a few times since and when I last saw him he was all grown up and hoping to join the Army. I had many great stories but I think that would be my favourite.

What would I say to a new vollie? I have said this to many newcomers: "Find something you are good at and make that your thing." When you're new, you might find yourself wondering what you can do. Don't wait to be given a special task, bring something you are good at. I asked one vollie what she did that was special and she said she did massage. I told her to make that her thing and she did, she massaged stressed mothers' feet. She was a volunteer for many years.

My specialty was magic and that was what I did for all of those years. Another woman made soft toys, she followed my advice and brought in some wool and cloth to teach her craft to the kids. Early in my days there was an old man who volunteered with the hospital, not Starlight. He used to scrounge donated wool and taught the kids to make pom poms. He did that for many years until age caught up with him. I believe that's the secret to being a good and useful vollie. It worked for me. I'll miss everything about being part of the Starlight team."