It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go … including Wyndham!
Residents across the municipality have embraced the Christmas spirit, decorating their houses with lights and festive-themed paraphernalia.
The owners of 1 Wilson Crescent in Hoppers Crossing have what could possibly be the most impressive display in Wyndham.
Des Wilson has used more than 2000 lights and a range of other props, including inflatable cartoon characters imported from America, to decorate his family’s home. He says he started decorating the house for Christmases 14 years ago, and it has grown “organically” to the Christmas wonderland it is today.
“I was always interested in doing it as a kid, and it’s just grown each year,” he said.
“This year it’s been exceptionally popular because of the new characters we’ve got up.
“A projector plays Christmas movies and songs at weekends. The kids absolutely love it.”
The lights are being switched on from 8.30 until 10.30 every night in the lead-up to Christmas.
Over in Wyndham Vale, Brett Lockwood has also got into the Christmas spirit.
What began as a modest display 20 years ago has snowballed into a huge display at his Aloma Avenue home, with about 3000 lights, a screen with Christmas movies playing, Christmas-themed Lego, a fish tank, and a giant Thomas the Tank Engine train out front. Mr Lockwood says the train pays homage to wooden train sets around Christmas trees.
“There’s just so much for kids to see and do; they run around and have a ball.”
The lights are on from 8 until midnight nightly, with a different movie each night.
Meanwhile, over in Santander Crescent in Point Cook, the whole street has upped the ante in Christmas displays. Emma Lindell and her husband started the trend back in 2007, beginning with a small light and music show. Over the years that followed, it began to build and the neighbours got involved.
But it really hit its peak in 2012 when the street made national headlines with its Gangam Style light show (based on a 2012 YouTube video by South Korean musician Psy).
Mrs Lindell said this year’s street event would be a parade on December 20, featuring Santa, a performance with Scottish pipes and drums, fire trucks and a Christmas caroller.
“It isn’t just about the parade; we welcome people down every night to see what we’ve put together,” Mrs Lindell said. The street welcomes donations from revellers, with all funds going to the Point Cook CFA.
