Serena Kirby, Denmark Bulletin

Sam Nguyen’s home in Dunskey Place has become an illuminating sight for the past five years. The Strickland Street Vietnamese bakery owner spends several hours every day for more than a month stringing lights and positioning Christmas ornaments. In previous years Sam had a few helpers but this year he set up the display with only the help of his father.

“I work until 2am in the morning so I’m home a lot during the day hours to do the lights,” Sam said.

“I do it for the kids.

“Kids love Christmas lights and kids in the country don’t have anywhere to see Christmas lights like they can in cities.

“It’s my way to give back to the community that’s supported me.”

Sam came to Australia from Vietnam as a refugee when he was a child and moved to Denmark with his family 16 years ago to set up his bakery business.

In addition to the annual festive display, Sam gives out free donuts and drinks on a Saturday night earlier in December.

This year Sam gave out several hundred donuts to a queue of people that snaked down the road and around the corner.

Sam said his neighbours were all supportive of his community attraction and his closest neighbours have allowed him to spread some lights on to their front garden.

As Sam’s light display has been growing each year, he’s always looking for something new and a spare space to fill.

His new ‘rain drop’ lights, hanging high in his next door neighbour’s tree, came from Vietnam and are a mesmerising addition this year.

The investment has been in the thousands of dollars and Sam admitted his power bill increases over the festive season but said it was well worth the smiles he sees on people’s faces.

The 18 Dunksey Place lights are on every night until the middle of January.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 22 December 2022.