Santa Claus has been flat out this year preparing to fill the Christmas orders from all the well-behaved children around the globe, and urgently enlisted the help of the Mayor of the Barkly when trouble arose.
Thousands of dollars of presents for this year’s 88th annual Tennant Creek Christmas Tree event were at risk of not arriving for the event due to freight issues.
But thanks to Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin, the presents were delivered into town with the Mayor’s brother-in-law’s company – Dyers Freight coming to the rescue.
The high cost of insurance has also put a dampener on the event which will be held at the Civic Hall from 5.30pm, with the usual jumping castle and waterslide having to be canned due to the extra risk involved. However, there still be plenty of food and fun for the kids.
There will be Santa letter writing tables and a face-painting stall while kids enjoy a fresh fruit salad, popcorn, fairy floss and a sausage sizzle.
Mayor Jeffrey thanked Dyers Freight for coming to the rescue, as well as sponsors Jemena, United Service Station, Tennant Mining and Barkly MLA Steve Edgington for their generous donations to help provide a magical Christmas event for the children of Tennant Creek.
“The Tennant Creek Christmas Tree Committee members also deserve a huge pat on the back for their hard work to get this event on the ground,” he said.
The Committee team that worked hard with the Mayor for the festive treat for local children comprises of Gillian Molloy, Lucy Mcgarry, Beck Way, Irena Edwards-Kelly, David Khoory, Mikeely Fraser and Casey Lahne.
This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 9 December 2022.
