Original toot date: 24 March, 2023

#FlashbackFriday - The Santa Run

When I was 19 or 20, I realised that kids in the neighbourhood were no longer able to see Santa on the back of a fire truck, handing out lollies on Christmas morning. This made me really sad; Santa is for EVERYONE! So, I organised with my parents to step in and fill that void.
I didn’t have a firetruck, but Dad had a Ute, which in hindsight, just gave my endeavour an Aussie spin. I dressed my father up as Santa and put him on the back of the ute. I couldn’t give out mixed lolly bags as I didn’t have a commercial kitchen, so instead, I purchased (with the help of my folks), individually wrapped lollies, bags of chips and small toys.
I wore something Chrismasie, sat on a milk crate on the back of the ute with Dad and helped Santa hand out toys and treats to the all kids in the neighbourhood. We even took dog treats with us for any fur-babies that come out to greet us.
We continued this tradition for about 15 years before it become too difficult to continue both logistically and financially, but the best thing was, we actually had parents tell us that they remember Santa coming to them when they were kids – we had managed to do this across 2 generations and leave community with some very special memories of our initiative.

#santa #santaisreal #christmas #christmastime #aussiechristmas #australianchristmas #community #WeAreBrimbank #Brimbank

#FlashbackFriday - The Santa Run

When I was 19 or 20, I realised that kids in the neighbourhood were no longer able to see Santa on the back of a fire truck, handing out lollies on Christmas morning. This made me really sad; Santa is for EVERYONE! So, I organised with my parents to step in and fill that void.
I didn’t have a firetruck, but Dad had a Ute, which in hindsight, just gave my endeavour an Aussie spin. I dressed my father up as Santa and put him on the back of the ute. I couldn’t give out mixed lolly bags as I didn’t have a commercial kitchen, so instead, I purchased (with the help of my folks), individually wrapped lollies, bags of chips and small toys.
I wore something Chrismasie, sat on a milk crate on the back of the ute with Dad and helped Santa hand out toys and treats to the all kids in the neighbourhood. We even took dog treats with us for any fur-babies that come out to greet us.
We continued this tradition for about 15 years before it become too difficult to continue both logistically and financially, but the best thing was, we actually had parents tell us that they remember Santa coming to them when they were kids – we had managed to do this across 2 generations and leave community with some very special memories of our initiative.

#santa #santaisreal #christmas #christmastime #aussiechristmas #australianchristmas #community #WeAreBrimbank #Brimbank

Ahh, December 27th, you good ol’ do nothing day, you…

Made it through two Christmas family gatherings, and my birthday, and there’s still New Year’s Eve and more birthdays to come! So today, it’s time to just do nothing. Particularly as it’s thirty fricken seven degrees C outside!

#AustralianChristmas #MelbourneWeather

#Australianchristmas #Australia

🎅DECORATIONS🎅

#Christmas2022 #Christmas #MerryChristmas #ChristmasLights #ChristmasDecorations #Finley #BerriganShire #SouthernRiverina #AustralianChristmas #AussieChristmas #NewSouthWales #NSW #ChristmasDecor #VMKPhotography #photography

Outside, on a nice warm day, listening to lorikeets squawk and thunder rolling past, I hear sirens whooping. No drama this time, it's the next town's rural fire service (volunteers) driving Santa along every street. My town's RFS drove him round last weekend, and have done for over 35 years.

A few changes over the years
- Santa rides safely in the cab, not standing on the back
- Santa no longer throws lollies to waiting children
- the once famous but now infamous Rolf Harris is no longer on the playlist 😱

Santa's drive by and buying our xmas tree from the RFS are two of my favourite traditions of the season. I hope they continue to have a quiet summer.

#bluemountainsnsw
#australianchristmas
#tradition
#RFS
#volunteers
#ruralfireservice

Keeping my eye out this festive season …. 😀

‘A huge worry’: Christmas beetle decline spurs calls for citizen sightings https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/19/a-huge-worry-christmas-beetle-decline-spurs-calls-for-citizen-sightings

#ChristmasBeetle #AustralianChristmas #AustralianFauna #Beetles #Australia #CitizenScience #AustralianHistory

Just recorded a special Christmas episode. What will the newspaper archives reveal about Australian Christmases past?

Spoiler: Whinging and a lot of jelly.

Image: Australian Women's Weekly 6 December 1967

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55469725/4979453

#AustralianChristmas #AustralianWomensWeekly #SouthernHemisphere

Christmas Down Under. A pastels palm tree-printed shirt, snowflake-covered Grogu Christmas jumper, bowtie (my kid loves them), and babyccino.

#christmasdownunder #christmasinaustralia #australianchristmas #christmas #lifedownunder

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl9v1gmBRpv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Christmas Down Under. A pastels palm tree-printed shirt, snowflake-covered Grogu Christmas jumper, bowtie (my kid loves them), and babyccino.

#christmasdownunder #christmasinaustralia #australianchristmas #christmas #lifedownunder

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl9v1gmBRpv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

If stepdaughter brings a cask of cheap red wine, I’ll be making mulled wine tonight. It’s truly ‘the season’ when you’re drinking hot mulled wine on a warm balcony. #australianchristmas