Are you on the Good List?
By Sophie La Roche

Santa Claus is comin’ to town! The time of year when lights shine bright, trees pop up with stars and fairies on top, and festive song is in the air. So to help with celebrating the Christmas cheer, there were a few events, were you there?
 

In Henderson, on Saturday 21 November, Santa could found having a party (Henderson Town Centre, Great North Road and Catherine Place, Henderson) at the Henderson Christmas festival! This deal was great, included carol singers, performers, bands, and of course a special visit from Santa! Santa’s younger fans enjoyed free rides on the pirate ship, tea cups, ferris wheel, balloon twister, and bouncy castle. While the older children had fun on the 4-in-1 bungee and rock climbing wall!

Over at the Westgate Santa Parade on Saturday 28 November, floats, bands clowns, and more, not to mention a special stop over from Santa on Westgate Drive and Westgate centre. When in Glen Eden on Saturday 28 November, you might have encountered all sorts of free entertainment such as: face painting and activities.

The Great KidsCan Santa Run in Te Atatu on Wednesday 2 December. There was a 2km-3km fun run wearing Santa suits (provided as part of the entry fee) to raise money for KidsCan!

There were lots of christmas celebration in Te Atatu, with a Christmas parade and fun day on Saturday 5 December, and the parade. Jack Pringle village green and Te Atatu Peninsula community centre complex were filled to the brim with free entertainment like bouncy castle, rides, bungy, as well as food and craft stalls.

On Sunday 6 December, Avondale were singing christmas carols by spiderlight. They met under the spider in the Avondale town centre to enjoy sausage sizzle, entertainment, a visit from Santa, food, carol singing, and tree lighting at sunset.

Last but not least, something a little different from the rest of West Auckland’s efforts to celebrate with christmas cheer, though still brings plenty of excitement is the Titirangi Volunteer Fire Brigade lolly run. This has been postponed from its original day to the rain date on Sunday 21 December. This is a fantastic bit of excitement for the local Titirangi kids, when they get to meet Santa riding a firetruck, and he might even throw you a few sweets! (If you are on Santa’s good list).

So I think it is safe to say that Christmas has arrived in West Auckland. The tuis are signing at dawn, and Kanuka flowers are giving us a white christmas. So Merry Christmas and have a happy new year! :-)

The J.T. Diamond Essay Competition is run by the West Auckland Historical Society. Members of the public all around west Auckland of all ages participate by writing an essay on a historical event that took place in West Auckland. Previously, participants have written about: The Old Piha school, The Waitakere Volcano, murders, etc.The winner of the competition receives a piece of diamond jewelry as their prize. The diamond is donated to the competition by the Franich family who own a jewellers shop in Henderson. This year, the winner of the competition was a nine year old girl from Woodlands Park Primary, she was the only participant from her school. Glen Eden Intermediate school fielded the most entries. The school is proud to have so many eager writers participating and for this, they were rewarded a beautiful hand-crafted prize, this is called the Bullock Trophy. Woodlands Park Primary is just as thrilled with their award-winning author.