Community & Business
22 November, 2024
Christmas village on display at local business
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Gilgandra business Takeaway on Castlereagh, where a special project has unfolded as the festive season approaches.
The ‘White Christmas’ themed village, reminiscent of what you might see in northern hemisphere countries that experience snow during the winter, is now on display in the shop window.
The project is a labour of love for self-proclaimed Christmas-enthusiast Bonnie Glover, 42, who owns the business. When The Gilgandra Weekly stopped by earlier last week, Bonnie was taking a break from serving customers to sort out the tiny craft fencing to be applied to the mini-village.
“I’m just a kid at heart when it comes to Christmas,” Bonnie laughed.
The finished project, the faux-snow village features more than 20 tiny homes, each with their own fully-fenced yard, two railways, a mini-theme park, a pond, and more. Colourful Christmas baubles hang from the roof, Bonnie said, and the display also features lights. “I just love Christmas!” mum-of-four Bonnie explained as she assembled a line of fencing.
Bonnie started the display on Sunday, November 9 and finished by the end of the week. In the first four days, the bulk of the village was in place in the shop window on a raised foam base.
“I’ll have baubles and everything hanging from the roof,” she said. The shop-front display is an extension of Bonnie’s annual efforts at home, where she has in past years made life-size Christmas cutouts to decorate her front yard.
“I wish I had more time to make the cut-outs this year. Time restraints mean I can’t do that this year. I have done the lights though,” she said.
Customers have praised the display when they visit the shop, Bonnie said. Rose Sims admired Bonnie’s handiwork when she stopped in Gilgandra to buy lunch on Thursday, November 14.
“I think it’s wonderful. I go all-out for Christmas myself and have a second tree on my verandah,” Mrs Sims said.
Travelling with her husband, Mrs Sims was on her way home to Pyalong, about 100 kilometres north of Melbourne, from a visit to Lightning Ridge.
“I’ve also bought some local honey. I just love honey,” Mrs Sims added.
The new Christmas village now has pride of place in the shop front at Takeaway on Castlereagh.
