Lonnie tree ready to light up

THE Borough of Queenscliffe community is eagerly waiting for the festive season to officially begin when a beacon of the region’s skyline lights up tomorrow (Saturday, December 2).

Hundreds of Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff residents and out-of-town visitors will make their way to Point Lonsdale Primary School’s outdoor stage at the corner of Point Lonsdale Road and Bowen Road for the annual lighting of the Point Lonsdale Christmas Tree.

Carols will start the event from 7.30pm before the lights are switched on an hour later at 8.30pm. Santa Claus will also make a special appearance.

Borough of Queenscliffe mayor Isabelle Tolhurst will conduct her second tree lighting since becoming mayor.

“It’s a bringing together of family, friends, dogs too, and community groups, and people of all ages within the Borough more broadly; there’s plenty going on,” Cr Tolhurst said.

“It’s a beautiful spectacle to see the Norfolk Island Pine come to life and we absolutely love that – it’s what the borough and Christmas are all about.”

Standing at about 40 metres in height, the Pine Tree’s lighting is a major tradition in the Borough of Queenscliffe dating back 71 years and can be seen from at least 30km out to sea.

The rigging of the tree’s electrical wires and lights is done by the community’s dedicated Point Lonsdale Tree Lighting Committee.

Committee member and rigger of the tree’s wiring Wayne Pecar said the tree holds 16 festoons each with 35 globe lights, taking the tree’s light total to 560, all of which are put in place by community members.

The Borough of Queenscliffe will be responsible for road closures along Point Lonsdale Road tomorrow as well as the event’s sound system.

Fellow committee member Phil Newey said the community was extremely passionate about the tree, which will be lit from 8.30pm to 3.30am every day until Australia Day.

“If the lights weren’t on this year, we’d be dead meat.

“If just once the lights weren’t lit, we’d be done and that would be it. It’s something we take a lot of pride in doing each year.

“Light-up night is what makes it all worth it for us seeing the kids around the tree and the glow on their faces when the tree is lit for the first time.

“That’s what the spirt of Christmas means to us and we can’t wait for Saturday.”

A free raffle will also be held on the night to decide who will flip the switch to officially power on the tree this year.