Successful Carols hit the right notes

BALLARAT Carols by Candlelight presented by Harcourts has literally gone out with a bang as a spectacular fireworks display brought the evening of Christmas cheer to a sparking crescendo.

With over 8000 people though the gates and more than $10,000 raised for the 3BA Christmas Appeal, organising committee president Matt Hustwaite said the highlight for him was the simple family fun.

“It just shows how important the event is to the community,” he said. “After the previous carols were unfortunately cancelled earlier in the year, this just demonstrates it’s a great thing to put on and that is brings so many from the community together at this time.”

“What’s really been nice is to see how the families have gotten behind the kid’s activities and the carnival. It’s wonderful to see parents and families and parents playing with their kids, that’s really what the whole sprit of Carols is about.”

Things couldn’t have gone better for organisers and attendees, with all the pieces falling into place and the huge audience building steadily from 4pm on Sunday afternoon.

Co-host for the evening Jules Zass said the Carols by Candlelight was sure to become another highlight in the city’s events calendar.

“This just adds to the rich tapestry of things we have here in Ballarat, and tonight, what a success, the crowds were fantastic, the weather gods were shining on us and we couldn’t have asked for a better night,” Zass said.

Fellow co-host Glenn Ridge cut his teeth in Ballarat working on local kid’s TV shows in the 80s.

Getting back to the city and helping entertain new generations was a big motivator for him to take part.

“It was great to be invited back to Ballarat and be a part the Carols and also because the history of what’s happened over the last couple of years, like the fact that Carols wasn’t going to happen,” Ridge said.

“Because of the group who’ve got together and got it up, it now means we’ve had a great night.

“The crowds have been good, everyone’s taken part and it’s fabulous to be a part of.”

Over half-a-year of planning went into the Carols with organisers essentially creating the evening from scratch.

Along the way companies from across the region donated their time and effort with more than 100 people including musicians and performers, support staff and of course the organising committee gave their time.

“There’s a heap of volunteers that have got this together,” Ridge said. “I think it’s great that people have got off their butts and have got this up and running. It’s fantastic.”

Apart form a great night of family centred fun, another reason behind making sure Ballarat had a Carols by Candlelight this festive season was the 3BA Christmas Appeal.

Without the event one of the key one of the major funding sources for the Appeal just wouldn’t have happened, yet now there’s a further $10,000 going towards the cause.

“Anything the supports the Christmas Appeal is amazing, there’s such a need for it,” Zass said.

“It supports over 4000 families in Ballarat this time of year. Why not make Christmas as good as it can be for everyone? Christmas is a time of year that everyone should be able to enjoy.

“It’s so good to see everyone out donating their time and funds to the Appeal.”