Kathy Gandolfi
A SPECTACULAR Christmas lights display is greeting night time drivers on the eastern outskirts of Millicent again this festive season.
One of Millicent’s ‘must see’ Christmas lights displays for many years, the home of Karly and Des Farmer at 238 Mount Gambier Road grows every year and this year is no exception.
Putting up the display is quite a practiced and well-oiled process for the Farmers.
Stored in a shed, the display is carefully tested for any faults or needed repairs and then it takes the Farmers a further fortnight to put their display up including home-made santas, reindeer, Christmas trees, snowmen and candy sticks.
The display is impressive by day snuggled in the Farmers’ delightful and extensive garden, and at night the home becomes a wonderland of thousands of lights enjoyed by hundreds of people who drive by in awe.
“I just love lights,” said Karly explaining that her attraction to them began when she was growing up.
“My dad brought home the first set of lights – they were just screw in things that are completely outdated now but back then I thought they were the best thing ever so I guess my love of lights comes from that.”
Karly said decorating her own home began in 1972 when the Farmer’s first child was born.
“Ever since the children were little, I started inside and it grew into this.
“I just can’t get enough of lights and I keep adding to them.”
Karly said her husband, Des helped by making many of the features in the garden display on which the lights are festooned.
“I just have an idea and he makes it for me – happy wife happy life I suppose he thinks.”
The happy squeals of children are the reason the Farmers make the effort every year.
“From inside we hear the little kids – they love it,” she said explaining that a steady stream of cars goes slowly past their home and then down Banks Street to view the side of the display also.
“They yell out and we can hear their voices – it’s nice to think we are giving the kids some joy.”
Karly said the light display would be left up until about January 7 and then the process of carefully packing them away in organised and marked boxes begins – ready to come out again next Christmas.
The Farmers’ display is one of many around Millicent.
There are others along Mount Gambier road and decorated residences also include those in McCourt, Ramsay, Ireland, Wilshire, Spehr, Grosser, Fifth, Fourth, Bowman and McMorron streets along with Wilson Court and Monash Terrace.
