A former Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School student’s passion for helping sick children has been recognised on the national stage.
Pip Russell represented Queensland at the Australian of the Year Awards on the weekend in Canberra.
It followed her selection as 2018 Queensland Local Hero last November.
“I feel honoured to have the opportunity to fly the flag for so many local heroes across the state who are making a significant impact in their communities. But I must say, while my name might be the one associated to this award – it really is for all of the patients and families,” she said.
Pip Russell was also inducted into the Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School’s Hall of Fame in 2017.
Each year a former student is inducted who has achieved something remarkable.
Ms Russell wanted to make an impact on the lives of kids in hospital.
“My parents sacrificed a lot so I could go to a really great school,” she said.
After volunteering at the Children’s Hospital an idea was born.
“Some children don’t have a choice what happens to them and I wondered, what can I do to give back,” she said.
After three years of planning and a successful crowd funding campaign, Juiced TV launched in 2015.
Juiced TV is broadcast thoughout the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.
Each 25 minute episode is made by the kids in hospital, for the kids in hospital.
Interviews range from musical workshops, animal encounters to meeting their favourite celebrities and sometimes adventures outside the hospital walls.
Some of the more famous guest appearances include Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston, Justin Timberlake and Johnny Depp appearing on the show as Captain Jack Sparrow.
But the real stars of the show are the Juiced kids themselves.
Ms Russell is inspired by the kids’ resilience and selflessness.
“I don’t know how the families and kids do it,” she said.
For nine years prior Ms Russell fronted Toasted TV and Totally Wild.
It was here she honed her skills as a presenter and gained extensive production skills at a national level.
Ms Russell has also raised more than $20,000 for cancer research at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, volunteer in remote villages in Africa and present a documentary on Australian Aid in Cambodia.
Juiced TV has been watched more than two million times on YouTube and more than 2,000 patients and their families have taken part.
Ms Russell is currently rolling out a mobile app that will allow children in regional hospitals access to Juiced TV.
The second stage of the app will allow patients to create their own content from their hospital beds.
“My mission is to change the way that children experience hospital, in the same way that game changing companies like Apple and Facebook have transformed the way people connect and communicate with one another. For us to complete stage two we need more funding and people can donate via links on our website.
“There are no words to describe the feeling that I get when I see a child’s face light up and their huge smile when they’re a part of the program,” she said.
