A large gathering of community members appreciated the late change in venue for Carols on Sunday, December 14; and organisers were grateful to the Buloke Shire for providing the alternate location. 

Initially planned to be held on the lawn of the VRI Hall, those planning the event took stock of the weather forecast of “stinking hot” and moved to the cool shade and air conditioning of the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall. 

The venue change didn’t dampen the Christmas spirit, with Australians doing what we do best in the heat... cook up a barbie! The free sausage sizzle fed the crowd prior to moving inside the hall anticipating the upcoming carols. 

A two-hour program was prepared for the community, with Jane and Kieran Lamos leading the audience with “Aussie Jingle Bells” to get everyone started. St. Arnaud Brass Band accompanied many of the traditional songs; Jane and Keiran, taking turns with Genette Milburn and Laurie Pearse led the audience in song, while other groups put on individual performances. 

The Donald Kindergarten children took the stage, looking as adorable as kids that age are wont to, performing “Santa Was His Name-O” with signs to spell out said name-o. Their second song, “Jingle Bells”, complete with their own bells and actions to go along with their singing, was just about as joyful as it could get, St. Arnaud’s ukele group had a hard act to follow. 

This group playing on their tiny stringed instruments really gained the attention of the audience though, with their upbeat sound almost begging the crowd to join along with the singing of “White Christmas”, “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. It was then a perfect moment to rest everyone’s voices and listen to the story of the birth of Jesus as told by the WOW (Wonders of Wednesdays) children. 

Dressed in complete costume, small shepherds, kings, angels, Mary, Joseph and of course the baby Jesus were all there in a living nativity scene, completing their narration with the song “We Three Kings”. 

Corack Performing Arts Project members then had their turn behind the microphone, with adult performers singing a choir-style version of Kasey Chambers “I Still Pray” before being joined by the younger members of the group. The whole group then sang the well-known John Lennnon song “War is Over (So This is Christmas)” and finally the younger members set the party tone with Rend Collective’s “Merry Christmas Everyone”, with the audience unable to resist clapping along. 

There were special children’s songs to then share, all the little ones gathered on the carpet at the front of the hall to sing together prior to Peggy Coats captivating the assembled youngsters with a story just for them. 

To finish the fun-filled program, more carols were shared, led in turn by Jane and Keiran and Genette and Laurie, backed by the always impressive brass band. Genette Milburn’s moving performance “It’s About the Cross” and “Because He Lives” preceded the final song for everyone to join in ­­– “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”. 

And certainly it was a lift for the spirit to have such a wonderful collection of talent contributing to an afternoon of community Christmas cheer. Many thanks to those who volunteered their skills and time; for the barbecue, the Zooper Doopers – the whole afternoon – was free for all and a perfect chance to celebrate the season with the wider community.