Voice of Real Australia: There’s something a little bit sweet going on in Victoria

Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from ACM, which has journalists in every state and territory. Sign up here to get it by email, or here to forward it to a friend. You’ve probably heard all about Pay It Forward? (It’s when the recipient of an act of kindness does something kind for someone else rather than simply accepting or repaying the original good deed. There was a book and movie about it if you want to know more). But have you heard of random acts of cupcakes? No? Well in Ballarat, in Victoria’s Central Highlands, a movement is taking place. The first little glimmer of it actually started with a gift from Sydney – baker Madeleine Witham’s friends wanted to support a community business hit in the pandemic. The friend knew it would unlikely be anytime soon those locked down or hit hard by COVID could delight in The Little Cupcake sweet treat, so instead bought a mix-of-the-day dozen online and asked Ms Witham to find an unassuming recipient – someone unlikely to be buying or delighting in these little cupcakes. Random acts of cupcakes, as Ms Witham has called it, has begun to catch on in the past couple of weeks as word of the cupcake surprises spread. Now people all across the region are getting deliveries of sweetness, from people they have most likely never known or met. One recipient wrote to the Eureka Street cupcakery saying she could hardly believe Ballarat people’s kindness. The recipient was a single mum, new to the city and living in transitional housing with her two children, one with special needs. She filmed her sons’ reactions to share with Ms Witham. The cakes had been bought anonymously by another single mum. It’s not the only wonderful piece of good news coming out of Ballarat at the moment either. Have you heard about Jai Johns? He might be just seven, but that hasn’t stopped him starting a charity to help homeless people. He brainstormed some basic items homeless people may need and from there his charity – A Little Helping Hand – was born. “It could be really cold at night, that’s the handwarmers, same with socks, tissues are for if they cut themselves, two bottles [of shampoo and conditioner] to have a shower with, and they can brush their teeth,” he said. The packs also contain two muesli bars, wet wipes, and gloves, and are carefully packed by Jai in a new toiletries bag. Read his story here. In case you are interested in filtering all the latest down to just one late afternoon read, why not sign up for The Informer newsletter?

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LEFT: Jai Johns with some things for his packs for homeless people. RIGHT: The Little Cupcake’s Mark and Madeleine Witham. Photos: Adam Trafford

You’ve probably heard all about Pay It Forward?

(It’s when the recipient of an act of kindness does something kind for someone else rather than simply accepting or repaying the original good deed. There was a book and movie about it if you want to know more).

But have you heard of random acts of cupcakes?

The first little glimmer of it actually started with a gift from Sydney – baker Madeleine Witham’s friends wanted to support a community business hit in the pandemic.

The friend knew it would unlikely be anytime soon those locked down or hit hard by COVID could delight in The Little Cupcake sweet treat, so instead bought a mix-of-the-day dozen online and asked Ms Witham to find an unassuming recipient – someone unlikely to be buying or delighting in these little cupcakes.

Random acts of cupcakes, as Ms Witham has called it, has begun to catch on in the past couple of weeks as word of the cupcake surprises spread.

Now people all across the region are getting deliveries of sweetness, from people they have most likely never known or met.

One recipient wrote to the Eureka Street cupcakery saying she could hardly believe Ballarat people’s kindness. The recipient was a single mum, new to the city and living in transitional housing with her two children, one with special needs. She filmed her sons’ reactions to share with Ms Witham.

The cakes had been bought anonymously by another single mum.

It’s not the only wonderful piece of good news coming out of Ballarat at the moment either.

Have you heard about Jai Johns? He might be just seven, but that hasn’t stopped him starting a charity to help homeless people.

He brainstormed some basic items homeless people may need and from there his charity – A Little Helping Hand – was born.

“It could be really cold at night, that’s the handwarmers, same with socks, tissues are for if they cut themselves, two bottles [of shampoo and conditioner] to have a shower with, and they can brush their teeth,” he said.

The packs also contain two muesli bars, wet wipes, and gloves, and are carefully packed by Jai in a new toiletries bag.

More stuff happening around Australia …