Coins changed hands, notes completely disappeared and business cards went missing at Tabulam Health Centre on Thursday, April 13.
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But it was all in the name of entertainment – and magic.
7-year-old Halo Galli performed his well-loved magic show to Tabulam Health Centre aged care residents for the third time in six months.
Each school holidays, Halo and his 4-year-old sister Lake travel from Newcastle to visit their grandparents in Portland.
They also make a special trip to Tabulam Health Centre to entertain its residents with some spectacular sleight of hand.
“I love magic shows, so I decided I should give it a go,” Halo said.
“I started magic one year ago.
“My little sister Lake and I love to entertain people with magic and performing because it makes them smile and sometimes laugh. I’ve been practicing.”
Both Halo and Lake have been diagnosed with autism.
Their mother, Tanya Beasley who grew up in Lithgow, said practicing and performing magic has brought her children out of their shell.
“If there was one thing I wish people knew it’s that autism doesn’t have a certain look,” Ms Beasley said.
“A lot of people tell me my children are too cute to have autism, but it’s very different for everyone. If you’ve met one autistic child, you have met just one.”
The Galli family are using their magic shows, which Halo also performs in his home town of Newcastle, to spread acceptance and pride in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
“Everybody is special,” said Halo.
“Some people have autism and some people don’t.”
April is World Autism Awareness month. The United Nations declared the theme of World Autism Day, which opens the month, as ‘towards autonomy and self determination’.
