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Peter creates Christmas magic

Posted on November 14, 2009, 9:09am and updated on November 17, 2009 at 8:48 am

Peter Mounsey
Peter Mounsey (pictured) is quick to admit he has his dream job.

Not many blokes can boast about being paid to tinker around in the back shed and create things.

But for Peter, who has built a new float for the Mount Gambier Christmas Parade, it is his reality.

Four years ago Peter replied to a part-time job advertisement in The Border Watch placed by Mount Gambier City Council.

After his wife pestered him to apply in order to get him out of the house after his retirement, Peter landed the job.

It is obvious Peter hasn’t stopped smiling since.

A self-confessed handyman, Peter says he has always had a passion for making things.

“When I was a young lad I built a sports car,” he explained.

“I have always had an interest in woodwork, welding and steelwork.”

Peter admits it really is an enviable job.

“You get to build things you never dreamed of,” he said.

Peter is now just putting the final touches on his new float called Toyland.

Giving The Border Watch a sneak peak at the float this week, it is obvious he takes pride in his work and loves every stroke of the paintbrush.

He said the float started as an old car, which was donated by Peter Barrows.

“We then stripped it down bare and I started to build the float around it,” Peter said.

“It starts as absolutely nothing.”

He said it takes nine months to complete the work.

“You do all this work and it still looks like nothing, but once you put the paint on it starts to look great,” he said.

Peter, who worked for Telstra for 16 years and later owned and operated the Bed Man for 25 years, said he never knew what the end result would be until it was finished.

“I just want it to look good so the kids love it. All this work is for the children,” he said.

The Mount Gambier Christmas Parade, to be held on Saturday, November 21, holds a special place in his heart.

“It is the largest Christmas parade in regional South Australia and last year more than 25,000 people flocked to the city to watch it,” Peter said.

This year Peter will be driving the new new float, which will be presented by sponsor, the Out of School Hours Care program.

“I just think if it takes me nine months to build the float, then I should drive it,” he said.

“The parade is just magical. All the kids wave at you and look up in awe; it’s wonderful.”

He said he gained the idea for the Toyland float from an entry at last year’s Christmas Pageant in Adelaide.

Peter said the parade was also crucial for the city’s economy.

“The Christmas parade heralds the start of the Christmas season for traders,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mount Gambier Christmas Parade chair Robin Reid praised Peter’s commitment to the job.

“Peter’s ability to create top quality Christmas floats not only improves the overall standard of the parade, but also gives the opportunity for business and organisations to participate in the Christmas Parade as sponsors of the new entries,” Mr Reid said.

“It’s a winning arrangement all round.”

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