There he was! Seven feet of jollity, a bushy white beard, and a red suit: Santa Claus himself.
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In the Northern Hemisphere, he travels in a sled pulled by reindeer; in Guyra, he arrived in a fire engine.
One concession to the Australian heat, so much warmer than the North Pole: a pair of sunnies.
The excited Guyra kids danced around his feet, eager to meet the embodiment of Christmas.
He sat on a throne next to the Christmas tree, and gave each one a present.
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Santa was special guest at the Guyra Christmas Party, sponsored by Armidale Regional Council, and organized by the Rotary Club of Guyra.
“Santa Claus was busy for a long time,” Rotary president Hans Hietbrink said. “His elves handled out a lot of presents to the little kids – which they said were fabulous.”
Santa arrived after 6pm – but the festivities began well before then.
Local schools marched down Bradley Street at 5.30pm, from the council building to the huge Christmas tree outside the NAB.
“The St Mary of the Angels School really did well, and dressed the kids up, and had a good time," Mr Hietbrink said.
Dot Vickery, Guyra’s Citizen of the Year, lighted the tree, with the help of mayor Simon Murray and young helpers.
“I was very pleased with the turn-out,” organizer Hans Hietbrink said, “and with the number of people that came."
“All up, I'd say a successful evening!”