Last year, Tony Joyce made an arguably regrettable promise to his Christmas light display viewers that Santa would appear out the front of his house on Christmas Eve rain, hail or shine.
It turned out the weather rained, hailed and shone throughout the destructive storms that swept through the Goulburn Valley and left many homes without power on December 24.
It was a Christmas light displayer’s worst nightmare.
But true to his word and committed to the cause of fundraising for The Kids’ Cancer Project, he and his family still delivered their gift to the community on the night before Christmas.
“Santa ended up out the front in the pouring rain with no power and then when the power did come on, there was only half of the display available,” Mr Joyce said.
“But Santa still stood out in the rain with The Grinch and Mrs Claus until 11 o’clock that night.”
That’s dedication, and no doubt the kind of infectious giving spirit that inspired so many to help the Joyce family blitz past their $2000 fundraising goal and raise $4862.
“The good thing was, even the cars that did come along and could see there was no power on as they were approaching still came past and got to see Santa,” Mr Joyce said.
“Some of them still got out of their cars in the pouring rain to make sure they got their photo opportunity, which was good.”
The family has been putting on a light display — that has now grown to epic proportions — for seven years.
This will be the second year they’ve used the spectacle as an opportunity to raise vital funds for research into curing cancer in kids.
Their goal this year was to raise $3000.
It’s a figure their supporters have already helped them leave for dust.
Local businesses have bolstered fundraising efforts with cash donations, while Mr Joyce’s employer, Rubicon Water, has pledged to match all Rubicon employees’ donations, which so far equate to $1871.
And there’s still a staff Christmas party in Hawthorn where donations will be accepted to take place.
The introduction of a tap-and-go app on their phones this year, which allows donations of any amount to be taken anywhere, has also gone a long way toward lifting the total.
In addition to the new technology, donors can still give the old-fashioned way with cash at the display, or they have the option to scan a QR code and donate directly to the fundraising page.
As we get down to the business end of the festive season, Mr Joyce did one last ‘tear down’ of the display to manicure his quickly-growing rain-soaked lawns ahead of Christmas week.
“That only took me nine hours to mow the lawn,” he said, tongue firmly in cheek.
“It had to be pulled down, lawn mowed and set back up before everyone came around Saturday night.”
Lights come on at 7.30pm and power down at midnight each day at the Wanderers Lane, Kialla, address.
Santa will show up at around 8pm this Saturday night (December 21) and on Christmas Eve for photo opportunities and to hand out lollies to kids.
Other special visitors will appear the closer it gets to Christmas, including The Grinch, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph.
Icypoles are also available to purchase every night, with proceeds from those being placed in the donation pool, too.
“This event has grown as big as what it has mainly due to our tightknit neighbourhood,” Mr Joyce said.
“The amount of houses in Riverwood Estate that have gotten involved and put Christmas decorations or lights out the front is fantastic.
“It started mainly just to try and bring the whole neighbourhood together, to socialise out the front throughout December with the community and that is pretty much what makes it special.
“The fundraiser started because I could see an opportunity to extend that a bit further with the large quantity of people that were coming through.
“The response has been absolutely astounding.”
∎ Check out the Joyce Family Christmas Lights Fundraiser Facebook page for updates.
∎ To donate to The Kids’ Cancer Project fundraiser by the Joyce Family, visit the Fundraise Your Way donation page.