The Moore Park Beach community had their Santa hats and vocals ready as they opened the festive season with the annual Christmas Carols on Saturday evening.
Moore Park Beach Community Association and Moore Park Lions co-hosted the annual event, which had everyone singing along to their favourite Christmas songs, eagerly waiting for the arrival of Santa via the help of a fire truck.
Moore Park Beach Community Association president Shanelle Pekin said this year the Moore Park Beach Christmas Carols committee decided not to hold the vibrant firework display and instead opted to donate the money to the local emergency services.
“Normally we have a huge firework display and it’s a really big drawcard,” Shanelle said.
“We would spend about $2000 on the fireworks and instead we are donating this money to the local SES and Rural Fire Service who have been called out a lot recently.”
In true Australian style Santa gave his reindeer the evening off as he arrived at the Moore Park Christmas Carols via a fire truck, ready to greet the good girls and boys.
Shanelle said about 300 community members attended the Moore Park Beach Christmas Carols and every participating child received a special gift from Santa.
“We fundraise through the year to make sure we can buy each girl and boy under 12, a gift from Santa,” she said.
“We have the thrift shop (The Hub) with 20 volunteers selling clothes with money from sales going to this event.”
Shanelle said the event was kept within a $5 budget so all families could attend and enjoy the evening.
“We kept everything $5 and under so everyone could come along and enjoy the night,” she said.
“We had a mix of Christmas carols with the Rum City Silver Band, with many Salvation Army musicians, and performances from the children from the Moore Park Beach Playgroup.”
