December 16, 2014
The postponement of Murgon’s annual Christmas Fair because of wet weather failed to dampen enthusiasm for the much-loved event … if anything, crowd numbers at Monday night’s rescheduled Fair were up on last year.
The Murgon CBD businesses who stayed open for the festivities looked to be doing a roaring trade in their stores and on the footpaths outside as eager shoppers stocked up on Christmas purchases.
The Christmas Fair – which costs about $20,000 to put on – is organised by Murgon’s traders to say “thank you” to the townsfolk who’ve supported them thoughout the year.
This year’s event featured free live entertainment by the Wondai and District Band and the South Burnett’s very own Elvis, Jeff Hancox.
Hundreds of children running around Lamb Street were entranced by a big range of amusement rides, but many of their parents were more interested in the “Santa Grab For Cash” wheel where $6000 in prizes were up for grabs for shoppers who had taken part in a special Christmas promotion.
Corky and Shazz from CROW-FM compered the evening and the giveaways.
Various Murgon community groups also joined in the carnival fun, offering snacks and cool drinks to visitors.
Rotary’s ham and chicken wheel also proved popular, with eager ticket buyers standing by for the next spin of the wheel while Santa took requests and posed for photos with children under a towering Christmas Tree.
Murgon Business and Development Association president Leo Geraghty said the decision to move the Fair from Friday to Monday was very hard.
He said the group first had to make sure it could get approval to close the streets on Monday, and also arrange to get the amusement rides.
But he was full of praise for both the amusement ride operators and police for the co-operation they’d shown.
He was also relieved the weather forecast that Monday would be fine and dry proved reliable, and that crowd numbers hadn’t been impacted by the sudden change of date.
MBDA Secretary Margaret Long said she was delighted with the way this year’s Fair turned out, despite the hiccup caused by Friday’s unexpected wet weather.
“Everyone seems to be having a really great time,” she said.
“That’s what it’s all about.”
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