By Brendan Rees
It’s time to lace up your Santa boots and join the Gethsemane Church for a walk to help fund-raise the annual Clyde Carols by Candlelight.
The ‘Walk-to-Walk campaign’ starts at 9am on Saturday 23 November at 10 Blake Street Berwick, with five meeting points including the Old Cheese Factory, Casey Central, Berwick Springs Lake, Brentwood Park and Eden Rise, and Hillcrest Christian College.
Walkers can complete the whole 30km or individual legs.
The free Clyde Carols by Candlelight will be held on Saturday 7 December from 5.30pm to 9.30pm at the Hillcrest Christian College Oval in Clyde North.
Fun includes free kid’s amusements, free carnival rides, sausage sizzle, food vendors, raffle prizes, free giveaways, Santa aboard a fire truck with free lolly bags handed out to every child, and of course Christmas Carols.
Kerrigan La-Brooy, senior pastor at Gethsemane Church, said while the carols event was free for the public to attend, it cost the church about $30,000 to run.
“We are looking for people who wish to get involved as a sponsor or a donor,” he said. “All sponsors will have an integral part of making the oval come alive with children’s amusements, musical entertainment, street vendors and a variety of stalls, including exotic cuisine”.
“Your name or brand could be advertised via TV, radio, press, social media, billboards, and programs and over 20,000 flyers,” Mr La-Brooy said.
One major sponsor is Barry Bourke Berwick. Other sponsors are Zagames and Grill’d.
Last year’s Carols attracted about 4,000 people and this year promises “to be twice as successful and double the fun”.
“We even have the advantage of a ‘plan B undercover venue’ in the case of inclement weather,” Mr La-Brooy said.
Gethsemane Charity feeds and clothes around 400 people daily, 365 days of the year including public holidays.
If you are interested in getting involved or finding out more details, please contact the event committee directly on 0404 875 647 (Kerrigan La-Brooy) or 0424 847 266 (Stephanie Panza).
Alternatively, you can email gethsemanechurch@bigpond.com.
