The Yass Community Carols hosted by the Combined Churches were a huge success on Sunday night at Victoria Park, with locals and travelling families all enjoying the evening. (Photo at top: Violet Wylie’s first Christmas Carols with parents Bradley Wylie and Teagan King).
Activities at Vic Park commenced at 4:30pm, with the carols beginning from 6pm.
Yass Combined Churches band & choir
The event was also supported by the Yass Valley SPIN Foundation which served its famous mini doughnuts to the adoring crowd.
Combined Churches Volunteer Kristy Barber collecting a donation from new Baptist Pastor Keith Todd as part of the giving moment raising funds for local charity The SPIN Foundation
Although a slight summer chill in the air, it didn’t stop attendees from enjoying the festive night, filled with lights, music and fun.
Children participating both rehearsed and from the audience came together to sing along to ‘Jesus Loves Me’
Doug Painting, a volunteer at the Yass Community Carols, spoke on Sunday night at the carols about how the event was created.
“The event didn’t just happen overnight. A lot went into organising the music, working with Council, organising Yass Earth Movers who donate their float and getting it here, and then putting together the stage work. The stage blocks came from the high school, then all the flooring and gazebos which came from our place,” Doug said.
“We had to work with Council to make sure we had bins and everything else. They’ve been very helpful this year with that, as they have been before.
Singing along – Lisa Jarvis, Suella Jarvis, Pam Todd, Baptist Pastor Keith Todd, Jill Ivancic
“We do an awful lot with getting the vendors in who are local, organising the jumping castle which Yass Rotary donated, then we pay for other children’s entertainment so that young families can come in here and not have to pay anything. Yes, you’ve got to pay for your food but everything else is provided.
Can Assist volunteers Ruth Thompson and Jean Frost served up some welcome icecreams.
“It took us just short of two hours to put the truck together before the sound people could do their thing. It’ll take us about the same time to pack down the truck for it to go out.
Savarna Patterson, Jessica Fields and volunteer Doug Painting grabbing a well-earned coffee before the pack-up commenced
“We’ve got a core group of volunteers, but once you get here the pack down is always easier because people are here and they can see where they can help.”
Combined Churches Volunteer Cath Neuhaus collecting donations as part of the Carols giving moment – raising funds for The Yass SPIN Foundation
Yass locals Brad Wylie, Teagan King and Violet Wylie attended the Yass Community Carols in Victoria Park on Sunday night and thoroughly enjoyed the occasion.
“Violet is three months old today. This is her first Christmas carols. This is our first baby, we’re parents for the first time,” Teagan said.
“The carols are amazing. It’s very lovely because there are a lot of young families here too, so it’s very inclusive.
Yass Carols – free jumping castles kept the children entertained
“The singing from the choir has been amazing. All our nephews have loved the jumping castles. The volunteers have all been amazing as well. Next year Violet will be running around and on the jumping castle with dad.”
Well done to all involved in a great event. Here’s to next year!
Tim Warren & Jasmin Jones
