Christmas Events 2011

• Mayors Christmas Appeal
• 'Light up your Christmas' Competition
• Carols in the Park
• Turning on the Lights / Santa Fest

Mayor's Christmas Appeal

Christmas will soon be on our doorstep, so it's time to dig deep to help those less fortunate in our communities so they enjoy the season as well.

The 2011 Mayor's Christmas Appeal was given a $6000 kick-start this week when funds raised at the Mayor's Black Tie Ball held at Mareeba in August were handed over.

The funds represented 50 per cent of the money raised at the inaugural event, with the other $6000 going to the Mareeba Rotary Club for a community project.

Mayor Tom Gilmore is urging residents to get behind the appeal, saying there were many people within the Tablelands region who needed help to make the festive season a joyous time.

"We want everyone in our community to be able to celebrate Christmas without feeling stressed about not being able to afford even the basic foodstuffs," he said.

"Assistance provided through the appeal is a gesture of goodwill and that adds a little cheer to what may be a difficult time of the year for some people in our community," Cr Gilmore said.

Last year, the appeal provided 350 hampers across the region.

The hampers are delivered to families referred by various charity groups and welfare agencies in the region including the Anglican Church in Kuranda, Salvation Army, St Vincent De Paul, Community Services Tablelands, Eacham Community Help Organisation, Ravenshoe Community Centre, Red Cross Atherton and Herberton, Blue Care in Mareeba and Atherton, Tablelands Women's Centre, Kuranda Neighbourhood Centre, and Mareeba Information and Support Centre.

"In the true spirit of Christmas, Tablelands Regional Council would like to help make the festive season easier for those in need through the appeal which represents what Christmas is all about. I urge everyone to support the appeal by sending in a donation," Cr Gilmore said.

Donations can be made at Council's service centres in Atherton, Mareeba, Herberton and Malanda and at the Kuranda Library. People can also send their donation by cheque to Mayor's Christmas Appeal, PO Box 154, Mareeba 4880. Make the cheque payable to Mayor's Christmas Appeal.
No food items or toys can be accepted for the appeal.

Cr Gilmore is also encouraging those who need assistance to apply at the agencies listed above.

To be eligible to receive assistance, residents need to be receiving a government welfare benefit. Those residents that are outside the welfare system should see their local agency for assessment.

Assessment forms are available at the local welfare agencies listed above. Council does not assess the applications. Residents should complete the forms and return them for assessment by the relevant agency by 28 NOVEMBER 2011.

Please note, complete only one form to apply for assistance.

FORM - Christmas Hamper Application Assessment

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'Light up your Christmas' Competition

Tablelanders are being urged to get into the Christmas spirit this year by lighting up their houses and businesses this festive season.

Tablelands Regional Council, in partnership with Telstra and Adrian Kipps Electrical, is offering great prizes for the Light Up Your Christmas Competition.

The Kipps and Telstra Light Up Your Christmas competition includes five categories:

• Best Residence
• Best Business
• Best Street
• Best Rural, and
• Kid's Choice

Prizes will be awarded in both Northern and Southern zones of the Tablelands Regional Council area.

Entry forms are available here or at all Council service centres, at the Kuranda library

Entries close at 12 noon on Friday, 9 December, with judging to be conducted around 10-11 December.

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Carols in the Park

Sunday 4 December, Arnold Park Mareeba.

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Turning on the Lights /  Santa Fest

Meanwhile, preparations are well underway for the combined Turning on the Lights and SantaFest to be held in Main Street, Atherton from 6pm on Thursday 1st December.

The event is fun for the whole family, with Santa arriving with goodies for the children, a fireworks display, a magician, face painting, jumping castle, local performers and much more.

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