Town lights up with Christmas spirit

By Dion Teasdale
YARRA Junction traders are getting into the spirit of Christmas, with a range of festive community projects under way.
The town’s Business Development Group is running a shop window Christmas decoration competition and has bought festive banners to be erected along the main street.
The projects have been developed in response to a letter Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato received earlier this year from a local girl named Ainsley.
“In the letter Ainsley asked why other towns in the area were lit up at Christmas and her town wasn’t,” Yarra Junction Business Development Group treasurer Jaqui Hall said.
“When the business group received a copy of the letter from Tammy we decided to see what could be done to make a difference.”
Ms Hall said the business group initially approached the Shire of Yarra Ranges for funds to decorate the town, but was told no funds were available.
“We decided to take the matter into our own hands and see if we could get local businesses to decorate their windows for Christmas,” she said.
The window decorating bid has since evolved into a competition.
“All businesses in town have been invited to create a window display and the business with the best display will win a night’s accommodation at a luxury hotel in the city,” Ms Hall said.
“We think it’s a great way to lift the spirit of the community, to brighten up the town and show everyone what we can do.”
Yarra Junction Business Development Group chair Andrew McMath said all traders in the town had shown interest in the competition.
“The traders have been very supportive of the initiative and people are happy to be involved and work with us to build the competition every year,” he said.
“Businesses in town are supportive of the community spirit behind the idea and see it as a great way for the town to take pride in itself.”
In addition to the shop window competition, the business group has bought Christmas flags and banners to be erected on light poles along the main street.
“The shire has offered to erect the banners for us and we think they’ll show how the Christmas spirit is alive and well in Yarra Junction,” Ms Hall said.