All aboard for a ride with Santa

ONE hundred lucky children and their families got a preChristmas treat last weekend when they won a festive train ride into Cairns and a date with the Big Man in Red.

Cairns Central manager Christie-Lee Jackson said the shopping centre offered 100 free family passes for a ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway train from Freshwater to Cairns Central and all were snapped up within an hour.

“We had an overwhelmingly positive response from the community to the competition,” Ms Jackson said.

“The event was festive, fun and a great lead-in to Christmas. We loved seeing all the happy faces on Saturday.”

The train ride is a Cairns Central tradition which has been revived in recent years.

“This was the sixth year that we have run this popular competition and event. It’s part of our commitment to our community and giving customers great experiences,” she said. Santa joined the happy crowd at Freshwater Connection Railway Station for the trip into town, where the families were treated to a special screening of Arthur Christmas at Event Cinemas.

Santa is remaining on hand for photos at Cairns Central Centre Court from 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday, 9am8pm Thursdays and 10am4pm Sundays.

Meanwhile, the centre will be filled with the traditional sounds of Christmas today when Christmas Carollers sing from 11am-11.45am and 1pm-1.45pm at Centre Court. They will return at the same times on December 15 and 22.

Volunteers from the FNQ Hospital Foundation will also be wrapping gifts from 9am-5.30pm daily until Christmas Eve near Wara Sushi.

Gifts can be wrapped in exchange for a gold coin donation to the foundation.