Group keeps Christmas magic alive

THERE’S a special group of Australians keeping the magic of Christmas alive each year.

They are the people who dress their homes in festive light displays for the joy of others.

Allianz Australia’s Spotlight Your Sparkle competition, in partnership with this newspaper, aims to reward this community spirit by offering cash prizes of $1000 to the best homes in the country.

And in the true spirit of the season, they will also donate $1000 to each winner’s charity of choice.

Allianz Australia chief market manager Nick Adams said it was heartening to see the tradition being upheld each year.

“In Australia we love to celebrate by decorating our homes and gardens with Christmas lights,” he said.

“To help celebrate and encourage more Aussies to share their festive sparkle with their local community, we have launched Allianz’s Spotlight Your Sparkle competition.

“The competition is about recognising the contribution these local Christmas light displays make to the wider community, while also giving back to those less fortunate than us.”

Allianz chief festive officer Jamie Durie, one of the competition judges, said they were particularly keen to see patriotic and sustainable installations.

“I’m going to be looking for innovation, I’m going to be looking for sustainable style... and I want them to be Australian,” he said.

“Our version of a Christmas tree could be every bit as Australian as the gum tree and the banksias and the grevilleas that surround us.

“For me, one of the most perfect trees around to decorate would be the woolly bush. It’s super waterwise, it looks like a Christmas tree but it’s an Australian native.

“Do it in a festive way but also remember that we celebrate Christmas here in the summer.”

Instead of buying disposable decorations destined for landfill, Mr Durie suggested recycled items such as old fence posts can be used to make unique displays.

Visit couriermail.com.au/competitions for competition details

Entries close December 15.