Christmas Lights winners announced
Our independent judges had an oohing and ahhing time of it, cruising the Christmas Lights Trail through Cooloola Cove, Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach.
With eleven awards generously donated by seven businesses, chances were good for a prize in the 2013 Cooloola Mitre 10 and Cooloola Cove Shopping Centre Cooloola Coast Christmas Lights Competition. Luckily, entrants were only eligible to win one prize, because some of the competitors could have dealt a mighty blow to the $1500 cash and prize pool. Awards were announced on Saturday December 14, at the Rainbow Beach Lion’s Christmas Carols.
Judges were impressed with the creativity, visual and artistic application from floral displays, crafty santas to Tin Can Bay’s very own dolphins. Driving around, judges noted that there were many worthy displays that did not even enter.
Cooloola Cove Shopping Centre People’s Choice
1st –Neville Davies, 23 Investigator Ave, Cooloola Cove ($250) Well deserved! Planned to a T, parents appreciated the names of the reindeers, and the magical nativity scene. Children were impressed with the glowsticks!
2nd – Rod and Sharon Parker, Ed’s Beach Bakery, Shell Service Station, Rainbow Beach ($150) Little Eddie and the Christmas palm tree were a popular choice.
3rd – Lisa Bird, 6 Sirius Court, Cooloola Cove ($100) This “cottage like” display had something for everyone – moving reindeers, colourful flowers and a sparkling roofline.
Cooloola Mitre 10 Best Residential
1st –Reibel Girls, 7 Aramac Court, Tin Can Bay ($250) Be sure to check out the bubbles and their palm trees.
2nd –Malcolm Campbell, 6 Halibut Court, Tin Can Bay ($150) A little bit of the bay – with dolphins adorning the roof.
3rd –Keith Sykes, 32 Tingira Close, Rainbow Beach ($100) Laser light display was breathtaking – make usre you see around the whole fence line, not just the front.
Smiley Mick Electrical Best Business Jodie Grosskopf, Rainbow Beach Pharmacy ($100) It was good to see strong nominations in this category, they took it out with their pretty window displays.
Rainbow Beach Meats Best Street Phil Feldman and Fred Northfield from Drummer Street, Tin Can Bay ($100 voucher) Definitely worth a drive down this road. House after house was lit up which caused plenty of interest with the judges. We also spotted a beautiful nativity scene by a non entrant.
Rainbow Beach Realty Best Nativity Scene Mark Prain, 7 Bonito Court, Tin Can Bay ($100) This was another great street to visit, even though they had only one entrant, there were many lights to look at.
Rainbow Beach IGA Best Recycled Material Display Lynelle Jessup, Cafe to the Max, on behalf of the Dolphin Shopping Centre ($100) These innovative Santas from many of the shops included a recycled paper and curling ribbon haired with sunglass case booted man, a vegetable stuffed fellow, St Nicholas made with breadsticks, cob loaves and a piping bag nose, crafty fabric decorated Father Christmas and a mop bearded, plastic cup Santy. Must be seen to be believed!
4 Rent 4 Sale Best Tree Carolyn Wall, 48 Bombala Crescent, Rainbow Beach ($100) Standing proudly in their front yard, the Christmas tree was the pinnacle of their display.
Hosted by Rainbow Beach Cooloola Coast Community News, the Cooloola Cove Shopping Centre People’s Choice was voted for online – visit the website and facebook page for photos of entrant’s creations from each category and the award presentation. Thanks go to all the participants and the generous sponsors.
See the lights on the map or take the suggested Cooloola Coast Christmas lights trail …