Santa wows Woonona

WARREN JONES

FAMILIES flocked by the dozen to the yearly community Christmas celebration held just for the residents of the Hutton Park area in Woonona on Sunday.

It started five or six years ago when two neighbouring families decided to throw a small celebration to welcome the Christmas season to the neighbourhood.

But it didn’t take long for the mini festival to attract so much support from the community that it had to be moved down to Gordon Hutton Park itself.

Local Bob Hill said the older residents look forward to the night all year, but it’s the children who are the event’s main focus.

A raffle organised by local man Leo Hall raises money for the day and buys chips and ice cream for the many children who flock to the park each year.

Local parents organised novelty races for the evening and the young children had great fun in the egg-and-spoon and sack races.

Mr Hill said the highlight of the night is when Santa arrives, resting his sleigh and reindeer in favour of a local fire engine.

“Santa Clause comes down the street on his fire engine and all the kids crowd around the engine Santa gets all the kids around him and gives them all a bag of lollies,” he said.

Mr Hill said there are many young families moving into the area, and some of the residents who have been living there for along time like to welcome them to the community over Christmas.

“We have got a lot of young families moving in,” he said.

“Some of the older ones are moving out or things are happening and the new ones are coming in and they’re all either babies in arm or just starting to walk so I think it's got a hell of a future.”

After Santa's exit on Sunday the families all went home and turned on their Christmas lights.

There will be other events in the lead up to Christmas, and people are encouraged to walk the streets of the area and look at the light displays.

Mr Hill said this year Corrie Road is one not to miss.