Jason wound up in Orange hospital’s children’s ward on his birthday on Monday, following a knee injury, but the surprise visit by Santa Claus gave him something to laugh about.

For the Porters Retreat resident, 142 kilometres south-east of Orange, Orange hospital is a long way from home for his special day and Christmas.

“It’s not good being here, but I might be out on Wednesday morning,” he said.

Jason’s mother Deanne Kirkman had made the trip to Orange with him and was in the middle of making plans to celebrate his birthday at his bedside when Santa made the surprise visit.

Jason was waiting until his sisters arrived later in the day before he opened his present from Santa.

This is the third year Santa, with the help of the Orange Lions Club, has visited the children’s ward.

Club member Peter Fuge hoped the visit would brighten up the day of children in the ward.

“It’s very exciting and makes you feel really good to see the faces on the children,” he said.

Not only did Santa bring presents for the children in the ward, he also gave staff CDs to play for the ward’s sound system and DVDs for the ward’s patient library.

Mr Fuge said funds to provide the presents to patients and staff had come from the club’s fundraising efforts over the past 12 months.

nadine.morton@fairfaxmedia.com.au