Nurses and doctors at The Bendigo Hospital look after sick people, new babies and grandmas and grandpas as they grow older. To make sure we can make them comfortable and help to make them better we always need to buy new medical equipment for the doctors and nurses. Medical equipment is used to take a patient's temperature, read their blood pressure, help them breathe and take pictures of their bones and organs. The Bendigo Hospital has a team of people who raise money to buy this medical equipment.

But they really needed more helpers, so in 2005 they went to a graphic designer who could draw them two mascots who could help them raise money for the hospital. Craig was really good at drawing; he sat for a long time and thought about who could help the Bendigo Hospital fundraising team to raise more money for the hospital. 

He remembered that part of the fundraising activities at the Bendigo Hospital is The Bendigo Hospital Christmas Appeal held each Christmas. So he started to draw his favourite Christmas tree decoration which was an angel that he had been given by his mum and dad when he was very little. All of a sudden the pencil magically began to help Craig draw and by the time he finished, Bennie & Hellie were there on the paper before him. Craig was really excited about Bennie & Hellie and so were the Bendigo Hospital fundraising team. They all knew that Bennie & Hellie would be able to help them raise money for their hospital. 

By the time Christmas came Bennie & Hellie were looking beautiful and ready to go and meet all the Bendigo children. They went to IGA supermarkets, to the Bendigo show, visited the Special Development School and made sure they were around in the shops when all the mums and dads were doing their Christmas shopping. 

The fundraising team knew that everyone would love Bennie & Hellie, so they made special Christmas gift tags for mums and dads to put on their children's Christmas presents. 

Bennie & Hellie are always at the Bendigo Hospital helping the doctors and nurses to care for the sick children. They will be in Bendigo during other times of the year. You will see them in the Bendigo Easter parade and lots of other places. Make sure you wave to them every time you see them.

If you want Bennie and Hellie to come and visit your school or kindergarten ask your teacher to phone the Bendigo Hospital on 5454 9169 and ask to speak to the Fundraising Team.