Convoy brings surprise party for Kailee

A Harvey girl got a huge surprise when more than 50 cars came tooting down her street to help her celebrate her ninth birthday on April 19.

Kailee Hernaman was expecting a quiet birthday with COVID-19 restrictions in play when a convoy of cars carrying her friends and family brightened her day.

“It was a huge surprise, my mum told me no one could make it, but then I heard all the tooting and I knew something was up,” Kailee said.

“I was so excited when I saw all the balloons and all the smiley faces from the car windows.”

Kailee was unable to have a birthday party because of the social gathering bans, so the Harvey community rallied around her in an attempt to cheer her up.

Kailee’s mum, Mel, said there were people who got caught up in the drive-by and decided to just join the queue to say happy birthday to Kailee.

There were cupcakes, lolly bags and hundreds of balloons strapped across the bonnets of cars. Queen Elsa from the popular movie Frozen also made an appearance.

Kailee wanted to thank the community for helping to brighten her day.

“Thank you to everyone who made my day so special, it made me really, really happy.”

The nine-year-old also wanted to say sorry to her neighbours for the loud tooting on Sunday morning.

“I hope it didn’t wake anyone up,” she said.

Kailee is bright and bubbly and also happens to live with autism. She has been reaching out to help the community by drawing pictures and writing letters to people in nursing homes.