So many people have accepted the fun new challenge to show off the man in the red suit at Isisford this Christmas that Townsville is running short of Santa suits.
Devised by Dale and Chris Bignell to bring a little festive cheer to the central western Queensland community, they sold out of the 15 suits originally purchased for entrants and had to urgently search far and wide for another 20.
As you drive into town now you find Santa in all sorts of interesting locations - desperately clinging to the big yellowbelly at the western entrance, falling off a roof, riding a motorbike and with his head in the recycling bin are among the many creative positions the people of town have thought up.
"They all reflect the personalities of the people who made them," Mr Bignell said.
"The three lads who've turned Clancy's Hotel into a private residence have even dressed up in Santa suits and ridden round town on their motorbikes - it's been a lot of fun.
"We really didn't expect this response."
It's an idea they got from Ms Bignell's home town of Lilydale in Tasmania that migrated with the pair when they decided to buy a block of land in Isisford and resettle in western Queensland.
Mr Bignell is Isisford born and bred but made his way to Tasmania through the shearing industry, eventually taking a job with Comalco in the southern state, where he worked for 32 years.
It was there that he met and married Chris and when he retired, Isisford was one of the towns on their list of places to visit, enticing them to put down permanent roots again.
These days Ms Bignell works for the Longreach Regional Council as a tourism officer while Mr Bignell operates the community's recycling program.
In less than a year, thanks to the diligence of locals and the many tourists that camp on the Barcoo River beside the town, the program has raised over $10,000.
It's this money that is backing the Santa challenge and which has funded the purchase of Christmas trees and lights for the main street.
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The challenge is open to anyone living within a 25km radius of Isisford, which means that the properties of Portland Downs, Wakefield, Ruthven, Oma and Isis Downs, which all contribute to the recycling tally, are eligible for the prizes.
There's $150 cash and a $50 Golden West Hotel voucher for first place, $100 and another voucher for second, and $50 cash for third place.
It's too late to nominate now - they closed on Sunday - but everyone is keenly awaiting the results to be announced this Thursday, December 19.
Pity the Longreach Regional councillor who has the unenviable task of judging!
Read more: Mailbox comp cheers the west
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
