Behind The Wish: Airlie Clarke

When I was applying for Make-A-Wish my husband Jake was very interested as well. The Virtual Star Catchers Team had just started and they were looking for people that had experience with working with children.

My husband started a business of his own so he became flat out, so in the end it was just me who signed up.

I remember around the time of COVID it felt like there were so many negative things in the world and I thought to myself what can I do that’s positive.

Something that would be a nice escape for me from everything that was going on.

I did have a connection already with Make-A-Wish. When I was at high school I was a house captain and our charity was Make-A-Wish.

We used to do all these fundraisers like car washes to raise money for Make-A-Wish.

Our head of house at that time was Vickie Lester, who for a long time has been a big part of the Barossa Valley Branch of Make-A-Wish. She has always been an inspiration for me.

I always thought that as far as charities go Make-A-Wish was the best and that they must make magic happen. I always thought that one day I would volunteer my time with Make-A-Wish.

One of my best friends, Demi, has cystic fibrosis and she was granted a wish.

My skillset is definitely in communicating with children given I am a teacher.

And working in the wellbeing space I am across the research about what positively supports wellbeing and I know that volunteering is an active practice that’s good for your own wellbeing so that was another reason I wanted to do it.

I remember Lesley said we have this new wish for a girl called Airlie and I put my hand up and said ‘I have to be part of this wish’.

Obviously, Airlie is not a common name and I have only ever met one other person who shares the name.

I really wanted to be on this wish so it was assigned to me. The little girl Airlie was freaking out as well. She’d never met anyone called Airlie. We really kind of bonded over that.

She wasn’t quite sure what she wanted her wish to be so we did a second Wish Capture. And she decided she wanted to go to Airlie Beach, which is so cool. And I happened to have just been there.

So then we were talking about how we can never find anything with our name on it but I said when you go to Airlie Beach everything has got the name Airlie written on it.

She hasn’t been on her wish yet but that connection was so lovely. Her nickname is Airz, which is mine too. It was a really special connection.

It’s hard to describe how much I want her wish to go well. There was so much joy in that conversation we had about Airlie Beach.

It’s the reason we do all of this, for that joy. The phone call was just full of joy.

I think Make-A-Wish definitely puts things into perspective. It gives you perspective on what matters in life – and what doesn’t.

The need to not sweat the small stuff that is actually so true. I think Make-A-Wish also gives me a sense of gratitude for each day.

And when things are going really well, to take a moment to realise and appreciate that.

I think Make-A-Wish has increased my empathy and I think also the understanding that everybody is fighting a battle that others don’t know about. Some of these children you can see very obviously the battle they are fighting but with other children it’s not necessarily something that you are able to see.

I think having that sense of humanity with whoever you encounter in the world and reminding yourself that everyone is going through something is important. And if they are not today, then at some stage they will. I think having that empathy for people has kind of shifted my perspective around people’s plights.

Every single time I get off a Make-A-Wish call I am a buzzing. When you jump on a call after a full day of work you think you’re going to leave that call feeling more tired but you leave with renewed energy. You definitely feel joy, excitement, anticipation being part of Make-A-Wish.

Working full-time it is tricky to find the time for Make-A-Wish.

But when you commit to something, it’s almost like a time investment back to yourself.

It’s amazing what you get to be a part of for the child but you have almost also just booked in a time to feel good.

I didn’t realise it was going to be like that when I started but now I know two times a week I am going to have the best time and leave a call buzzing.

I can’t think of anything else I do that gives me the same feeling.

I have been to Disneyland and I think I experienced less of a high at Disneyland.