Christmas Season to be Jolly

Christmas is just around the corner, and there have been parties to celebrate around the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) communities. Read on to hear about some of the communities' festivities.

Nyirripi

 There was a quiet Christmas party at Nyirripi on Monday 9 December with five people present for an afternoon tea style gathering, with lovely food and sparkling apple juice in champagne flutes – giving it a special Christmas feel.

 Ursula Hudson, Victoria Vildzius, Julie Coote and Wayne Porter at the Nyirripi Christmas Party

 Yuelamu

Yuelamu had a Christmas lunch to celebrate on Thursday, 12 December.

“The staff had a great lunch, nobody went back to work with an empty belly and it was wonderful to all get together,” said Yuelamu Community Services Coordinator Renee Croton.

Yuelamu Christmas Lunch

 Yuendumu

There were 16 people, including some family, at the Yuendumu Christmas Party on Friday 13 December. Everyone enjoyed their meal (and no doubt the leftovers that went home with some).  “Christmas crackers were pulled, hats worn, terrible jokes told and fake moustaches, little cars and earrings taken home,” said Deb Wearne, Community Services Manager at Yuendumu. “It was a good Christmas lunch!” she added.

 Atitjere

A Christmas parade and barbecue was held on Saturday 14 December in Atitjere. CDRC Remote Services, Aged Care and Youth Sport and Recreation, Children’s Ground, the Atitjere Homelands Store and CDP provider Rainbow Gateway pooled resources together to make it a success.

Most of the community children and quite a few adults turned out to watch the parade with Santa handing out lollies to the children. Scope contracting (working on the clinic renovations) entered their decorated telescopic handler into the parade.  A big thank you to Carl from Scope who stepped in at the last minute to be Santa.

The Atitjere Christmas parade, which included Santa’s sleigh, the Night Patrol vehicle (main picture) and the Scope telehandler (above)

 Once the children received presents from Santa it was time to eat and most of the community enjoyed the lunch of barbecue, fresh watermelon, oranges and cold cordial.

The Atitjere works crew constructed a small water slide for the kids and this proved to be very popular indeed, and just before the sun set local musicians set up the band and entertained the guests well into the evening. 

A big thank you to all involved especially the CDRC staff that gave up their Saturday and to the Clinic staff and Harts Range Police for their help in making sure that this event ran smoothly.

 Engawala

There was a Christmas lunch held at the Engawala Aged Care on Thursday 19 December. Along with the Aged Care clients and their carers other CDRC staff joined them for a Christmas barbecue lunch.

 Lajamanu

On Friday 20 December CDRC Staff from Lajamanu had their Christmas BBQ. “No sausages survived!” said Lajamanu Senior Administration Officer Michael Erglis.

Pictured from left: Hector Patterson, Mathew Patterson, Stewart Penn, Councillor Joe Marshall, Councillor Robert George and Bradly Marshall.

 Anmatjere

On a very hot, overcast evening on Saturday 21 December at Ti Tree Roadhouse, Ti Tree Council staff gathered for their Christmas celebrations to put a close to the great work that has been carried out throughout 2019.

Staff and families enjoyed a meal and a swim among a dust storm with a sprinkle of rain, which didn’t put a damper on the celebrations at all.

“A great night was had by all,” said Jason McKissock, Anmatjere CSM.

A dust storm and some rain didn’t damper Christmas spirits in Ti Tree

 Laramba

Laramba Aged Care had a Christmas lunch on Christmas day, Wednesday 25 December. The clients and staff enjoyed their meal in the cool of the inside lounge.