By Michael Doran
Two young Healesville residents have put their artistic skills to good use by designing Casey MP Tony Smith’s 2018 Christmas Card.
Liam and Grace Bowness, aged 11 and 10, live with cystic fibrosis and met Mr Smith during a campaign last year to have an expensive medication placed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Ultimately the drug was placed on the PBS, reducing the cost from more than $290,000 to $480 annually.
In September, Mr Smith contacted the family and asked if Liam and Grace would like to design his card for the year, an opportunity they grabbed with both hands.
Their mum, Kirsty, said the most daunting part was to get them to come up with one design they could agree on.
“It was such an honour to be asked and Liam and Grace really enjoyed the process,” she said.
“We suggested they draw their own picture and then join up the best of each to make the final one and that’s what they did.
“When they saw the picture of Tony Smith handing the card to the Prime Minister they couldn’t believe it was their card, they were so excited about that.
“Tony Smith has been really supportive of our cause so that makes this even more special.”
Liam and Grace attend St. Brigid’s School in Healesville, which also mounted a letters campaign in support of the listing on the PBS.
Asked if this was the start of a career in the arts for the pair, Kirsty said “perhaps, it’s a good way to start”.
