KZ: Hi Matilda! Congratulations on being appointed the 2022 Fred Hollows Humanity Award Junior Ambassador for Victoria! You were nominated due to your work as the editor of ‘The Little Issue’. Can you explain The Little Issue to K-Zoners?

M: Thanks! The Little Issue is a kids magazine that talks about social justice and environmental issues. Some articles are written by adults but lots are written by kids. It also has heaps of fun games, colourings, craft projects and interviews.

KZ: What inspired you to start The Little Issue?

M: I got the idea when I was eight and was out shopping with my mum. I saw a vendor selling The Big Issue which is a magazine that helps support homeless and disadvantaged people. I love reading (a lot!) so asked my Mum if I could buy a copy and she explained that The Big Issue was more for adults.  I thought that if there was a magazine like this for grown-ups, there should be one for kids too. This is where the idea for The Little Issue started.

KZ: What did you choose to do with the proceeds?

M: I chose to give all the proceeds from The Little Issue to our Soup Bus in Ballarat. The Soup Bus, just like The Big Issue, supports those in our community who are homeless or less fortunate. The Soup Bus provides meals, hair cuts, blankets, school supplies and more, to people who need them.  It seemed like the right choice for The Little Issue.

KZ: Did you have to learn to use or do anything new while creating issues of the magazine?

M: Yes, lots! Once we had everything we wanted to include in the first edition, it was time to lay it out like a proper magazine and this was quite hard. It took lots of help from teachers and family to get it just right. There was one teacher who put in a lot of time to help get this first edition finished. Being only eight when we started, I wasn’t very good at using a laptop! I was so lucky to interview Amy Hetherington, the editor of The Big Issue, who showed me what a flat plan is, which was really helpful. Another challenge was chasing up other kids and their contributions!

KZ: When was the first issue published, and how many issues have you published so far?

M: The first edition was published in November 2018 and with lots of help, I have created another four editions. I am trying to find time to work on the next edition which will hopefully be ready in early 2023. My favourite regular section is called ‘Never Too Young To Change The World’ which focuses on kids who are making a difference in the community. I have also loved meeting all the people I have interviewed and thinking up interesting questions to ask.

KZ: When did you find out you had been nominated for the award?

M: I didn’t find out that I had been nominated until my family told me that I had been chosen as a Junior Ambassador! My Aunty Em and one of my little sisters, Lilah Rose, both nominated me separately. Lilah Rose creates the back cover designs for each edition of The Little Issue.

KZ: How did you feel when you were chosen as a Junior Ambassador?

M: Aunty Em and Lilah Rose organised to tell me together via facetime so they could both be there, which was special. I was amazed and excited and felt proud that they had nominated me. I didn’t really know what to say!

KZ: As a Junior Ambassador, you were able to give $5000 to a Fred Hollows program. Why are these programs important, and which one did you choose?

M: I found this decision extremely hard. I really wanted to give the money to all the programs. In the end I chose the Vietnam program to donate the money. I chose Vietnam because my grandmother, Ma, has volunteered as a nurse in Vietnamese hospitals many times. So this seemed like a good choice. The Fred Hollows programs focus on certain places where people can’t always afford or access eye care. I found all the programs amazing!

KZ: What would you say to any kids who aren’t sure whether they can make a difference in their community?

M: You’re never too young to change the world!