By Jesse Graham
The mastermind behind the Lions Den Op Shop’s mammoth Christmas light display has donated their prize money to charity, to help children and families touched by violence.
The lights display by Lions Den, which featured countless toys and lights across two large windows, earned it a second-place prize in last year’s Deck the Heales-ville competition – and a $500 cheque.
But at the Lions Club’s 15 February meeting at the Healesville RSL, the artist behind the elaborate display, Lisa Malek, donated the prize money to the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.
She said she wanted to support a charity that helped women or children who had been affected by violence.
“They’re both something I can relate to,” she told the Mail.
“The Alannah and Madeline Foundation was the best one to choose at the time.”
The foundation runs programs for families and children affected by violence and bullying, set up in memory of Alannah and Madeline Mikac, who were six and three years old when they were killed during the Port Arthur mass shooting in 1996.
The foundation has care programs for children who have witnessed or experienced violence, as well as prevention programs and cyber-safety programs.
Foundation representative Emily Cusworth said the organisation was “humbled” to receive the donation from Ms Malek.
“Especially coming from Lisa, when it’s something so personal and so close to her heart, it means a lot to us – as well as from the Healesville community, too, it’s really special,” she said.
Ms Malek said the display at the Lions Den took two nights to install, and about two months to plan and create.
Lions Club president Lindsay Frost told the Mail in January that the competition would be returning this year, with more details to be made available around October-November.
