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Festive spirit celebrated

Posted on November 23, 2009, 4:04pm and updated on November 24, 2009 at 4:03 pm

Christmas Parade
More than 20,000 people crammed into the city centre on Saturday for one of the largest Christmas parades in Mount Gambier’s history.

Cool overcast weather and the promise of dozens of colourful floats meandering down Commercial Street lured families from across the region for what has become Australia’s largest regional Christmas parade.

Event organiser Gina Ploenges described the spectacle as one of the biggest in the event’s history.

“It was great to see all of the excited children at the parade and all the effort people and organisations had put into the floats,” Ms Ploenges said.

She described some of the school floats as “amazing”.

“Mount Gambier should be proud of this event, particularly all the effort the community pours into the parade,” Ms Ploenges said.

Meanwhile, Compton Primary School teacher Michael Langton said the school was excited to take out the event’s most outstanding entry.

“We have now won it two years in a row, next year we will be trying for a hat-trick,” Mr Langton said.

“It was thrilling for our school to win it. It was a wonderful day and the kids were very keen.”

Mount Gambier Out of School Hours Care Service director Carolyn Widdison, whose organisation sponsored Mount Gambier’s City Council’s new float Christmas in Toyland, described the parade as a wonderful event.

“It is fantastic and a lot of fun,” said Ms Widdison, who explained 14 children were involved in Saturday’s float.

Teenager Shai Sullivan, who helped carry the “Merry Christmas” sign at the start of the parade, said it was thrilling to be part of such a huge event.

“We have a lot of fun doing it,” Shai told The Border Watch.

The parade also kicked off the traditional festive shopping season for traders in Mount Gambier.

Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce president Lynette Martin described the parade as one of the largest she had ever seen.

“It seemed to me that it attracted a great crowd, there were a lot of people along the street,” Ms Martin said.

“It was also perfect weather for the event.”

She said the parade was also important because it heralds the start of the Christmas shopping period for Mount Gambier traders.

Picture: Holding the Merry Christmas sign at the start of the float were Jaylee Clark, Scott Kenny and Shai Sullivan on Saturday.

TROPHY WINNERS

Compton Primary School — Beatlemania (most outstanding entry).
South East Accommodation Services — The Christmas Lakers (best Christmas theme).
Synergy Dance — Centro Synergy Dance Stars (best club or community organisation).
Tenison Woods College — In the Jungle (best school entry).
Allendale East Area School — Jungle Safari (best out of town entry).
Mount Gambier High School — Christmas cheer (best musical entry).
Ben Sparrow — Clown on a Tricycle (best individual entry in parade).
Mount Gambier and District Bicycle Users Group — A Happy Cycling Christmas (encouragement award).
Geelong West Brass Band (best brass band non-professional).

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