Reminders of Beaudesert’s community spirit are everywhere, as the town rounds out the year covered in its Christmas colours.
Soaking rain and summer storms forced the cancellation of the annual carols in Jubilee Park and postponed the launch of the Christmas Light Extravaganza at Elysium Village.
But it could not dampen Beaudesert’s indomitable spirit, as carols were sung with gusto around the lighting of the town Christmas tree on 1 December.
Knitted and crocheted decorations still cover just about every tree, light pole, park bench and bollard (a few stolen pieces were thankfully returned), clinging on through floodwaters which inundated the town on 8 December.
The Christmas lights are well and truly on at Elysium, continuing nightly until 26 December.
Beaudesert’s Christmas spirit is strong as ever, splashed across just about every surface in the town centre and demonstrated in the actions of selfless volunteers.
It shone through many stormy skies this month, as locals wrapped yarnbombing around trees at sunrise in the soaking rain and when the community kept its chin up after wild weather forced the cancellation of anticipated events.
The town’s festive spirit spread into the homes of people needing extra cheer, via the thoughtful actions of school communities and church volunteers who collected and distributed goods for hampers.
That same festive spirit will welcome people in when Beaudesert Baptist Church opens to all for Christmas Day itself, with a Christmas movie and light Christmas lunch to follow the 8.30am service.
On 1 December, a small but spirited crowd gathered around the town tree for the switching on of the lights, swaying along to carols sung by A-Choired Taste and students of Bec Teese Performance Tuition.
As storm clouds barely held off overhead, Finella Loch live streamed the event on the Beaudesert’s Christmas Spirit Facebook page so everyone could get involved from the dry comfort of their homes.
Deputy Mayor Cr Michael Enright, who is on Beaudesert’s Christmas Spirit Committee with Shelly Currie, Vicki McAteer, Julie Ferguson and Finella, said Beaudesert had regained its Christmas spirit through community dedication.
“This started as a small group, Beaudesert’s Christmas Spirit, and has grown to a larger family. We’re just delighted in the number of people who are willing to contribute,” he said.
“This is our sixth Christmas we’ve done and each year we try to do a bit more, a bit different.”
Cr Enright spoke with delight about the increase in bunting in the town centre and the 18 crocheted bollard covers featuring characters from Santa to the Grinch.
He shared how Beaudesert almost tripled its timber Christmas trees from six to 16, through support from the Kooralbyn men’s group, and how all those trees are now on the St Mary’s fence, featuring art from the Mununjali community and nine local schools.
“Biggest thanks to our core group – these ladies have been working effectively the last five years in building what we’ve got, something very special, in putting some Christmas spirit back into Beaudesert, and I think we’ve achieved that again,” he said.
