A cool but fine evening ensured a large crowd for the Queen Street & West Woollahra Association’s Annual Community Christmas Carols. The evening started off with some real energy from the beat of Soul Drummers getting everyone in a festive mood. Parents relaxed on picnic rugs with wine and snacks or a glass of champagne from the bar, while children lined up for face painting, balloon animals, or hot dogs freshly cooked by Chiswick Restaurant's team containing delicious sausages generously donated by Victor Churchill.

Following the official welcome, the musical program commenced with a medley of Christmas songs performed by the excellent Woollahra Public School Choir, featuring more than 80 very talented young singers. A wonderful performance enjoyed by everyone. Woollahra Public School is core member of the community, and we were pleased to be joined once again by Principal Ms Kylie McKinnon, Deputy Principal Ms Janelle Warhurst, and their team this year. It’s always a delight to see them sing and see the pleasure and pride if gives to all the parents and grandparents watching.

This was then followed by the “Impromptu Choir”, magnificently led by the very talented Helen Kennedy. This fabulous choir of local volunteers, including the Mayor, only met on the day of the Carols and had very little time for any rehearsals. Despite this lack of preparation, their carol singing was superb, including some soaring descants, and it was great to see so many people on the lawn joining in. After such an impressive performance, we very much hope we can organise a similar community choir next year.

As always, Santa made his entrance and all the kids had an opportunity to pose with him for photos and then enjoy a delicious Christmas ice cream, very kindly donated by Maloneys. Thank you, Santa and his elves! The evening was completed with the raffle prize draw for six different prizes by Chiswick Restaurant’s General Manager, Shay Cullen. As they always do, many of our local businesses supported the raffle with wonderful prizes. The raffle is an important annual fund raiser for the QSWWA, and we very much appreciate their support (see the list of raffle prize donors below – please support them).

A big thank you again to all those who took part and supported us – Woollahra Council, Georgia Cleary and McGrath, Chiswick Restaurant and Victor Churchill for the BBQ, Jim's Cellars for the wine and champagne , Maloneys for the ice creams, Signarama Bondi Junction for the banners, raffle prize donors (listed below), musicians, singers, parents, grandparents, Santa & his elves, our photographer, Paul McGuire, and all the QSWWA committee members and those who also stepped in to help. Particular thanks need to go to our event organiser for the Carols, Alan Smith. Alan works tirelessly to organise the Carols every year and we are always very grateful and appreciative of Alan’s work in making it such a successful event.

Giles Edmonds, President, QSWWA