Christmas Eve on the Tweed Coast means the sounds of fire sirens – but don’t worry it’s not an emergency it’s just our own special Christmas tradition.
Just about every Christmas Eve since the early 90s the Kingscliff town fire brigade and the Tweed Coast and Cudgen Bush Fire units have been bringing the spirit of Christmas to all the Coastal villages from Fingal to Pottsville and this year is no exception.
From about 3pm on December 24, the men and women of the local fire brigades will be out in their trucks with a special cargo and an even more important passenger – Santa.
“It’s the Santa run,” Kingscliff deputy captain Chris Duce said as they prepared for this year’s trip.
“It takes a long time but it’s worth it.”
The three brigades drive the streets of each of the Tweed Coast Villages with Santa in tow, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and delivering lollies to the kids throughout the coast.
“Between the three brigades we give out something like 250kg [of lollies] across the afternoon,” he said.
The lollies are donated every year by local identity Alan McIntosh – a commitment that has grown as the area has expanded. Deputy Captain Duce said the lolly run now costs Mr McIntosh a fair bit of money but he is happy to do it and just as happy to stay in the background.
Retained Firefighter Shane Morse said it was a great PR exercise but more than that it was a lot of fun and now an important part of the local Christmas tradition.
“We can’t go right out to the rural areas but down in Pottsville a lot of the farmers come in and set up their barbecues in Overall Drive,” he said.
“It’s just great to see the kids faces and it builds the excitement of Christmas.”
