New ‘road’ to deliver festive cheer

Horsham Carols by Candlelight organisers are busily preparing to host this year’s event in a new format as they look to ignite ‘the spirit of Christmas in the region’.

Last year, organisers were left ‘devastated’ when they had to cancel a virtual presentation at the 11th hour because of licensing and copyright issues.

The virtual plan was to combat a ban on mass gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Event co-ordinator Simon Dandy said a group of volunteers was again working hard behind the scenes to deliver a dose of much-needed Christmas cheer, however, had learnt from last year’s trials and tribulations.

The result is an online Road to Christmas presentation that will run throughout December, finishing on Christmas Eve.

“Obviously we’ve been planning how to run carols this year for a long time and we made our decision early,” Mr Dandy said.

“For a lot of people, watching a twohour show on Facebook or via Zoom is wearing thin, because that’s what we’ve been doing for the past couple of years.

“So this year, we’ve decided to create 12 short videos, which we will upload every second day from December 2 to Christmas Eve.

“The videos will still feature local singers but instead of one big performance, there will be 12 little ones.”

Mr Dandy said he understood some people might be disappointed they would not be returning to an annual in-person concert at Horsham Soundshell this year.

“I know some people are saying that restrictions are changing and it’s going to be possible to do something at the soundshell and we understand that, but we also understand we’re in a rapidly changing environment and restrictions can change on a dime,” he said.

“The rules around double vaccinations are still raw for some people and we just don’t know what is going to happen now the state has opened up.

“They say there won’t be any more lockdowns, but if case numbers blow out and something happens, if they reintroduce restrictions at the last minute, it won’t affect us and we will still be able to go ahead.

“Another reason we don’t want to change our plans is we’ve been working on it for two months and will do our final filming in the next two weeks.”

Wimmera talent

Mr Dandy said online audiences would be treated to a wide range of regional talent, from classical singer Sofia Laursen Habel to popular Wimmera cover band Acousticus Stomp.

Opera singer Tim Mccallum, who was to headline last year’s carols presentation, will return in 2021.

“Tim is well-known for performing at the AFL grand final in 2020 and it’s great to have him on board this year,” Mr Dandy said.

“We will also have Jamie Thomas performing and a couple of choir groups as well, which will be good.”

Mr Dandy said organisers had ensured the songs selected for the Road to Christmas were in the public domain.

“Mariah Carey isn’t going to get a look-in this year,” he said.

He said he was excited to deliver the Road to Christmas and hoped Wimmera people could embrace it.

“For me, you can see Christmas decorations in shops, but it isn’t until we get together for carols that it really starts to feel like Christmas,” he said.

“I know it’s going to be different this year, but we are trying to do something positive for the community after a difficult time.

“In a perfect world we would be back at the soundshell, but let’s hope next year we will be able to return there safely to celebrate together.”

ACE Radio, via The Weekly Advertiser and radio stations MIXX FM and 3WM, is again a major sponsor of Horsham Carols by Candlelight.

ACE Radio Horsham general manager Brendan O’loughlin congratulated event organisers on their efforts to continue delivering Christmas cheer, particularly after such a difficult year.

“Carols is a great event for the community and we appreciate how much work goes in, not just near Christmas, but throughout the year,” he said.

“We’re excited to see the new format and we look forward to hopefully going back to celebrating the event in person in the near future, in safer times.”

ACE Radio staff will collate the 12 Road to Christmas performances, which will be broadcast on MIXX FM on Christmas Day.