Sydney Children’s Hospital Patients Help Penguins Find Their Perfect Match
- Monday September 8th 2025
- R. Ryan
- Merlin's Magic Wand, SEA LIFE TRUST, SEA LIFE Sydney, Magic On Tour
In a bright and art-filled corner of Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, a hospital visit unfolded with a touch of magic. Young patients and their families, brushes in hand, joined SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s curatorial team for a creative workshop unlike any other.
In aid of Merlin’s charities, Merlin’s Magic Wand and the SEA LIFE Trust, the children painted smooth, glistening pebbles destined for the Aquarium’s penguin colony. Soon, these colourful creations will play their part in one of nature’s most enchanting love stories, as gentoo penguins present them to their mates and weave them into carefully built nests.
Gentoo penguins, with their striking orange beaks and graceful mannerisms, are famed for this unique courtship ritual. Each pebble becomes a symbol of devotion and the foundation for raising a family. For the children, the painted stones became more than an art project; they were a chance to be part of something larger, offering a connection to life beyond hospital walls.
“This collaboration allows children to contribute directly to the penguins’ breeding process while learning about these remarkable birds” Renee Howell, Curatorial Supervisor at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.
Parents also found joy in the experience. “It gave us a moment to forget about hospital appointments and just be creative together,” shared one mother. “Knowing that her artwork will help the penguins is such a magical feeling.”
In the weeks ahead, visitors to SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium will see the penguins collecting these painted treasures, arranging them into nests that shimmer with colour. Each display will tell a story not only of penguin devotion but also of human creativity and kindness - a vivid reminder that even the smallest gestures can build something extraordinary.
