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Festive Cheer From Santa’s Workshop Reaches Its ZenithSanta and his elves may still be busy gearing up for the big night later this month, but here in the Latrobe Valley, our very own ‘Santa’s Workshop’ has well and truly reached its zenith for the year. By Latrobe City Council - 12th December 2006 - Back to News Commencing work in March this year, a small group of eager participants have been meeting weekly at Santa’s Workshop in Vincent Road Morwell, to create and paint Christmas decorations.
Workshop coordinator, Keith Peters, said that once again the community has taken advantage of Santa’s Workshop to create their own Christmas decorations. "It’s a great place for ideas, inspiration and materials to make large Christmas decorations for the outside of your home," Mr Peters said.
"Christmas scenes such as Santas, reindeer, nativity scenes, elves, stars and sleighs are drawn onto base-boards, cut out and then painted. The finished items are then used by the participants to decorate their homes and gardens at Christmas time," Mr Peters said.
"The first piece of board is provided free of charge and then subsequent pieces of board are charged at cost price. Some people who first come here are doubtful about their artistic capabilities, but we provide stencils, paints and advice, and in no time they discover how creative they can be," Mr Peters said.
"People generally use the decorations they create in conjunction with outdoor lighting displays in their gardens, on verandahs, or sometimes on walls or the roof; and their displays are viewed by thousands of people who tour the streets to look at Christmas lights. Their work brings a great deal of joy to a lot of people."
The participants at Santa’s Workshop also fulfil orders for decorations requested by schools, local traders and community groups. "Any revenue generated through sales is then ploughed back into the purchase of more materials," Mr Peters explained.
"While it’s now too late in the year to fulfil additional orders, I would urge groups who require decorations for Christmas 2007, to contact Santa’s Workshop around March next year," Mr Peters said.
"In the meantime, it’s fine for anyone in the community to pop in on Tuesday and discover for themselves how they can become involved in Santa’s workshop," Mr Peters added.
Santa’s Workshop is currently open on Tuesdays 9.30am – 3.30pm at the former Morwell East Pre-school, Vincent Road, Morwell. For further details contact Keith Peters telephone 0427 834 791 or 5134 5249.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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