{"id":342413,"date":"2023-12-20T14:33:39","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T04:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=342413"},"modified":"2023-12-22T14:41:50","modified_gmt":"2023-12-22T04:41:50","slug":"frank-lights-up-with-pride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2023\/12\/20\/frank-lights-up-with-pride\/","title":{"rendered":"Frank Lights Up With Pride"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Frank Honey with his Christmas Cottage certificate and the new perpetual shield<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 20, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

A huge winter wonderland in Nanango has taken out the inaugural Christmas Cottage award for individual Christmas lights displays in the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

The walk-in display, at 45 South Street, is the work of Frank Honey who began assembling the festive fantasyland at the end of June.<\/p>\n

The Christmas Cottage award is an initiative of South Burnett Regional Council CEO Mark Pitt and his wife Nicola.<\/p>\n

The pair launched the Santa Claus Lane award (for co-operative street displays between neighbours) five years ago, and introduced the Santa’s Workshop award (for businesses) three years ago.<\/p>\n

Mark and Nicola presented a certificate to Frank on Wednesday morning at Nanango Library.<\/p>\n

His name has also be added to a new perpetual trophy which will be hung each year in the nearest library to the award winner.<\/p>\n

Mark said Frank’s display was terrific and was the “pride of Nanango”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Frank has been erecting Christmas lights\u00a0in his front garden for 13 years, and in 2015 was the inaugural winner of the then-Hancock Prospecting-sponsored South Burnett competition.<\/p>\n

However, he said he did not do it for the prizes or the recognition, but to see the looks on people’s faces.<\/p>\n

Frank works on his display on weekends and every night after he comes home from work; he tries hard to make it different every year.<\/p>\n

He estimates he has spent “tens of thousands” of dollars over the years, adding new items every Christmas.<\/p>\n

Between 3000 and 4000 people usually “pop in through the arches” every year and meander along the pathway.<\/p>\n

There is no entry fee, but people are invited to make a donation to LifeFlight. Frank said he usually raises between $3000 and $4000.<\/p>\n

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