A much merrier Christmas: Kiyle Lehmann with sons Bailey and Michael. Picture: ELENOR TEDENBORG
Santa’s silver lining
December 15, 2009
Section: News
Kiyle Lehmann doesn’t usually get Christmas presents. The Balgownie single mother of an 11-month-old baby boy and a 14-year-old son has nothing left for herself after buying food and presents for her children.
“The kids have a nice Christmas but I’m the one who always misses out,” she said.
“I don’t get anything.”
This Christmas will be different for the 31-year-old pensioner; Southern Independent Publishers (SIP), publisher of the Wollongong & Northern Leader, will play Santa Claus to the Lehmann family this festive season, delivering a sackful of goodies to their door.
The family will receive hampers of fruit and vegetables, meat, groceries as well as individual gifts.
Keira High School student Michael nominated his mother for the Christmas package, saying she didn’t have much money because she was a single mother.
In his nomination letter, Michael said his mother never got anything at Christmas.
“If we won this, it would be great because we would be able to have what everyone else has at Christmas and with the money my Mum wouldn’t have to spend on food and stuff at Christmas, she would be able to buy herself presents,” he wrote.
Ms Lehmann, who is on a disability support pension, plans on doing just that. “I think I’ll get myself some silver jewellery,” she said. “I’ve always liked silver.”
Michael’s father lives in Towns-ville and baby Bailey’s father is in Sydney although he is not involved in the little boy’s life. Ms Lehmann does not have a car and either walks or takes the bus to get around, hauling Bailey in his stroller with her.
“We scrape by every year,” Ms Lehmann said. “We have a ham and salad but it’s pretty quiet. It’s just us as my family is in Queensland.”
She was extremely grateful for the kindness of those who donated to the SIP Plays Santa appeal.
“Thank you very, very much,” she said. “It’s such a nice surprise.”
