Fire brigade Santa Run returns

TORQUAY kids can catch an early glimpse of Santa on Christmas Eve.

The Torquay Fire Brigade will roll out its annual Santa Run again this year, with fire trucks ferrying Mr Claus for visits ahead of his big night dropping down local chimneys.

The brigade will give live public updates about Santa’s whereabouts on its Facebook page.

Meanwhile, this year’s event will be the last under the watch of co-ordinator Louise Turner.

Ms Turner revived the Torquay tour in 2014 after she shifted from Drysdale and said the Christmas event had played an important role in strengthening the brigade’s connections with the community.

“It’s been very positive. We advertise it through the community, then when the run goes ahead we’ll give live updates on Facebook,” she said.

“It encourages people to like the Torquay Fire Brigade page, so if there’s a big event like a house fire or a community message that we need to get out, it helps us spread that message quickly.

“We went up from having not many likes to having thousands.”

The Christmas Eve tradition will continue next year under new organisers.

This year’s schedule is as follows:

RUN 1
4.30pm Djila Tjarra Skate Park/Playground (Merrijig Drive)
4.40pm Quay Boulevard Playground
4.45pm St Annes Reserve
5.05pm Sands Terrace and Sands Boulevard (0pposite no.42)
5.15pm Grinders Playground
5.30pm Flying Fox Park
5.40pm Deep Creek (corner Fischer Street)
5.50pm Pirate Ship Park Reserve
6.05pm Rocketship Play Ground (Marine Drive Side)

RUN 2
4.30pm Torquay Primary School (soccer oval)
4.45pm Frog Hollow Reserve
5.00pm Ocean Views Playground
5.10pm Bob Petit Reserve
5.25pm Jan Juc Creek Playground
5.35pm Diggers Way Walking Track (next to no.55)
5.45pm Sarabande Reserve
5.55pm Elephant Walk Playground
6.10pm Point Danger