By Molly Taylor
IT IS beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in Mount Gambier as festive decorations adorn numerous prominent positions across the city.
With the calendar ticking over to November, Mount Gambier City Council staff have started to place Christmas decorations throughout the central business district with lights, wreaths and bows scattered across buildings and light poles.
Council community events team leader Denise Richardson said the displays were an exciting reminder Christmas was just around the corner.
“People often ask us why we install them so early, but it is because it takes around two weeks for them to be completely finished,” Ms Richardson said, adding it sometimes inspired residents to start their own Christmas displays.
Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin said this Christmas would be more important than ever after an unusual and challenging 2020, due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think people may ponder the true meaning of Christmas,” Ms Martin said.
“My greatest wish this Christmas is the hope families can reunite and spend time with one another.”
With the NF McDonnell and Sons Mount Gambier Christmas Parade adapting a new format this year, now titled Santa’s Boulevard, Mayor Martin said the decorations were the perfect precursor to the big event.
“It is exciting for the city when the streets and buildings are decorated, marking the beginning of Christmas,” she said.
Installed on the first Sunday of December, Ms Richardson said the traditional nativity scene would feature new sculptures this year, replacing outdated pieces that were beyond repair.
“We will be keeping the hut, but council has had the statues for some time and they are very fragile now, almost getting to the point where you can’t handle them,” she said.
Ms Richardson said the community Christmas tree, which will be installed at the Main Corner on Monday, had proudly been decorated by the Lioness Club of Mount Gambier for the past four to five years.
Mayor Martin encouraged the community to donate to the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal, with all contributions making a difference in the region.
