By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
HE’S known as the ‘Lights Police’ of Lupin Court – and he’s got one hell of an army!
Graham Conder has lived in his home in Cranbourne North for 21 years and for the past 20 years he’s been lighting it up with the help of his friendly neighbours.
“As soon as someone moves into the court they get a knock on the door from me and I tell them … I demand that they do Christmas lights,” Graham said, laughing.
It’s a festive Lupin Court tradition that has become known far and wide and it’s not stopping any time soon.
“We start planning in November and on 1 December we turn them on,” he said.
“A few Father’s Days ago my sons bought me a new shed to put my lights in because I was running out of room.”
“My biggest plan is to make sure my neighbours get bigger and better and encouraging them to keep splurging on lights and decorations.”
But its Graham’s love for his “tight knit” court that keeps him coming back for more each Christmas.
“We get a great response from everyone, some people visit twice a week in the lead up to Christmas and we’re always out and about too, happy to have a chat with passers-by,” he said.
“Every year on Christmas Eve the court gets together on my lawn and we have fish and chips or a barbecue, we are all friends it’s a great atmosphere.”
This year Graham convinced 13 out of the 14 households in Lupin Court to join in on the fun and he couldn’t be happier.
“We share the lights between us and sit out and enjoy the show ourselves and talk to the visitors of a night,” he said.
“One year my neighbour who had just moved in said he’d love to participate but couldn’t afford it, so I lent him some of mine and we all share extension leads and help each other out.”
With many Lupin Court residents coming and going over the years Graham said he was proud to have conned most of them into the Christmas spirit.
“I couldn’t count how many families have moved in an out that I have had to convince,” Graham said.
“But once they move in they love it, some have even said they wish they’d moved in earlier.”
Letters of praise from onlookers are another reason the jolly bunch keep the tradition alive.
“A couple of my neighbours have received letters from children and adults too thanking them for the lights and the effort, people give us beer and presents too,” Graham said.
The Christmas destination will be pulled down on New Year’s Eve before midnight but Graham is hoping to mow his front lawn before then.
“With all the cables, lights and decorations it’s hard to do any weeding or mowing,” he said.
But it’s the smiles on Graham’s youngest visitors that really lights up the court.
Graham’s prize possession is his talking reindeer.
“I hide behind the car and through a microphone I can have a conversation with visitors as the reindeer.
“I ask the children what they want for Christmas,” Graham said.
“It’s absolutely an addiction – you can’t help yourself.”
