Clubs around the world are celebrating the holiday season!
In Queensland, Australia, QI of Redcliffe’s annual Christmas Festival of Trees attracts entries from local businesses, community groups, schools, and a growing number of early childhood learning centers. Now in its third year, the Festival ran over a full weekend and was supported by a selection of craft stalls selling hand-made Christmas items, chosen from the club’s July Craft Fair stall-holders.
The imagination and inventiveness used in the creation of each tree was amazing and this year included a tree of pencils entered by Humpybong Primary School, a tree of Pizza boxes, dental gloves, toothbrushes, and floss, and a tree created from paddle pop sticks by the Goodstart Early Childhood Learning Center. And, of course, entries included the more traditional variety decorated in a diversity of ways.
All entries were judged by a panel of three judges and by the public for a People’s Choice prize. Santa paid a visit over the weekend, and all visitors were able to enjoy a Devonshire Tea or Sausage Sizzle catered by the club’s band of diligent catering members. AUS$3,400 was raised from the Festival and sent to the Chinchilla Drought Angels to support women and children struggling in the severe drought conditions in South West Queensland.
Redcliffe’s annual Festival of Trees is a great fundraiser and a fun event that raises the club’s profile in the community.
