Emma Memma: Beloved children’s character visits Perth Children’s Hospital ahead of sold-out WA shows

Grey skies did little to dim the bright smile on Elsie Groom’s face as she met her idol Emma Memma at Perth Children’s Hospital on Saturday.

Sporting her trademark orange dress with matching tights and butterfly hair pins, Emma Watkins transformed into her much-loved children’s character to meet three-year-old Geraldton girl and her family.

As Elsie and Emma got acquainted, mother Lea Fowler told The West Australian how much the moment meant to them.

“It’s a special day for us,” she said.

“Elsie’s been a long-time fan of Emma since she was Emma Wiggle, so she was so excited when I told her we had organised Emma to come to the hospital.”

Joining Elsie was her father James Groomer and two-year-old baby brother Sunny.

The devoted mother said Elsie was five months into her acute lymphoblastic leukaemia journey and they were staying at PCH “until we’re allowed back home”.

Mr Groom, who owns a building company with Ms Fowler back in their home city of Geraldton, makes the long trip to Perth every weekend to be with his family.

Ms Fowler said while it was a difficult situation, the local community had rallied behind them and raised enough money to fly Mr Groom back and forth between Geraldton and Perth.

It was during her time at PCH that Ms Fowler decided to reach out to Ms Watkins in a bid to organise a special meet-and-greet, and the former yellow Wiggle answered the call.

Emma Memma made the special visit as she embarks on the final leg of her Twirly Tour across WA, with three shows planned in Perth before she heads to Bunbury then Alice Springs.

Ms Watkins said it was important to show up for those kids who couldn’t make it to her shows.

“It’s been so great to come to the hospital, if we get a moment like this we’ll always try and get there,” she said.

“It’s one of those things where when you visit one child you want to visit everybody, so hopefully we can do more of this.”

The Twirly Tour has been a success with sold-out shows across Australia.

“This is our very first tour, we’re not on television and really it’s only our YouTube channel so to see children and families actually connecting with the content is so lovely,” she said.