KidzWish Foundation General Manager Simon Davie, Chifley Wollongong Executive Chef Peter Washbourne, Chifley Wollongong General Manager Adrian The, and KidzWish Foundation Director Chris Beaven

Chifley Wollongong’s Executive Chef Peter Washbourne together with Ian Craig (Maintenance Manger) have been busy hand crafting the Christmas Ginger Bread Train of all Christmas trains. The ginger bread train which is 2.5m long, 45cm wide and 80cm high has been displayed in the hotel’s foyer from 1st December, and today will be officially handing over the gifts collected, to the KidzWish Foundation.

The detailed creation is the Chifley Hotel’s version of a Christmas Giving Tree with a twist. Chifley Wollongong worked in conjunction with the local TAFE campus’ cookery department to cook the huge ginger bread slabs – too big even for the Chifley’s commercial oven. The train carriages are filled with toys and Christmas gifts, donated by the staff & family of the hotel, and the local community. All gifts will be donated to the KidzWish Foundation, to distribute to the sick, disabled and disadvantaged children of the Illawarra.

The KidzWish Foundation is a self funded organisation depending completely on the generosity of individuals and organisations like Chifley Wollongong. Chifley Wollongong has an amazing partnership with KidzWish and they continue to find ways to improve the lives of local sick, disabled and disadvantaged children here in the Illawarra.

“Christmas is the time for giving, and what better way to give than to those who need joy, laughter and happiness the most” says Peter Washbourne, Executive Chef of Chifley Wollongong.
He continues “I’ve been working on this train since early November, and it’s rewarding to be able to utilize my skills in the kitchen, and contribute to such a great cause. My team also loves the challenge of something different and creative”

Chifley Hotel reached out to the local community and businesses to donate gifts suitable for children, to the ‘Giving Train’, to assist with spreading some Christmas cheer to these children, who at times have no happiness in their lives. The hotel is overwhelmed by the generosity of the local community, with the donations received.

KidzWish General Manager, Simon Davie said on top of the financial support that they provide, the staff at Chifley Wollongong contribute by helping KidzWish meet the needs of the special children through exciting events at their fantastic hotel. A great example of this is the Giving Train which is a new and fun way that the community can give to the children that need it most, at this very important time of year.

The train will be in the hotel foyer until 3.00pm on Thursday 15th December, when at that point, the gifts will be officially donated to the KidzWish Foundation.

For more details, or to donate call Chifley Wollongong on 02 4201 2111 or visit the hotel at 60 – 62 Harbour Street Wollongong. Donations can be made between 1st December & 14th December 2011. The hotel requests that all gifts are wrapped, and labeled with the suitable gender and age group.