Articles from 2004
Nikki's just fan-tastic for Dan
Canberra Times | September 26, 2004
SHE might not be the object of affection for many six-year-old boys, but for Daniel Hughes, Nikki Webster was "the bomb".
The child star of the Sydney 2000 Olympics has been a great source of joy for Daniel, who used Nikki's music as motivation during months of hospital downtime and a year at home in isolation to give his immune system a chance to recover from an extensive bout of chemotherapy.
Daniel, of Conder, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was 2. Since then he has undergone a bone-marrow transplant, endured with unfaltering acceptance big needles rammed into his thigh and, despite relapsing twice, he's a smiler.
Yesterday, the boy who wants to be a Bobcat driver met the two loves of his life: nature and Nikki.
The latter was by far the more daunting. His Camp Quality companion, Kim Williams, offered to confront her fear of heights on the ferris-wheel afterwards if Daniel went through with his date.
He agreed, although shyness overcame him as he met the 17-year-old pop singer backstage. Daniel did manage to tell Nikki he thought she was "good".
So why did he want to meet Nikki so much? "Well, 'cause I like her, and she's my favourite star," Daniel, suddenly a whole lot more talkative once Nikki was a few metres away, said. "I actually got on to her in the 'lympics. She was pretty good."
And having met Nikki, were there any other stars he wanted a hug from? "Nup, only this one."
His mum, Lisa, said Nikki's songs made great musical therapy because they were so up-beat.
Indeed, those on the lawn in front of Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park - a munchkin rave party, if you like - seemed to think so too.
A sea of pastels and broad-brimmed hats bopped along to the inaugural Littlies, Teens and In-Betweens concert at Floriade. Nikki is no stranger to Canberra; she has performed here four times, and particularly likes the politeness of people in the capital. It was her first Floriade, and she'd come back any day. As for her now not-so-secret admirer, "I'm very chuffed. It really just warms my heart, and that's what I'm in this industry for, to make people happy - do you know what I mean? - and hopefully fulfil their dreams while I'm living mine," Nikki, as sweet in prose as her Let's Dance album lyrics, said.
There were also performances by Dorothy the Dinosaur's Dance Party (Parts 1 and 2), up-and-coming Daramalan singer-songwriter Ashleigh Mannix, and R&B act D'Verse.
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