Wot, it's Christmas already?

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p2299-council-Christmas-3Blue skies, the mercury pushing 40 last night, a Christmas tree next to a palm tree, and the locals in costume heading for the town centre to have a party.
 
Yep, it’s Santa time in Alice!
 
ERWIN CHLANDA went for a look and took his camera.
 
• Carolyn Cooper taking time out from selling raffle tickets for the Alice Roller Derby League to chat with Town Crier Meredith Campbell • Miya Colman getting her face painted by Paula O’Brien • hurdy-gurdy transferring the fun & games from inside the council chambers to the council lawns.
 
 
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18 COMMENTS

  1. Xmas party is fantastic. We should never lose the spirit of Xmas. My concern is that one day with all these refugees coming that the spirit may be lost as they do not believe in Xmas. Some city schools are refusing to sing the Australian national anthem. So please keep Xmas alive and the spirit going.

  2. @ Fred the Philistine: Is a party the Christmas Spirit? Opening our arms to refugees is showing the real Christmas spirit. Have you forgotten that Jesus was a refugee, had to flee to save his life, with Joseph and Mary, had to leave for Egypt?
    Even before his birth, there was no open door for him until someone opened his stable.
    If Jesus was trying today to come into our country, fleeing for his life from King Herod, HE would be put in a detention centre, perhaps for years, or people like you full of Christmas spirit would try and stop HIM getting here by turning his leaky boat around so we could avoid our legal humanitarian obligations.
    Or else we would send him to some impoverished dot in the ocean which we have bought off to fulfil our obligations for us.
    (Mat 25:41-45) “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.”
    Then they also will answer: “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them: “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.”
    Merry Christmas, Fred.

  3. @ Evelyn: I would gladly accept the refugees, as long as they live by the Australian laws and do not try to change things to their ways.
    There are 31 states in America who will not accept them. Jesus was a Jew and his teachings were of peace and love. Please read the 10 commandments, as I have them in my pocket and abide by them each day.
    Jesus did not go around killing people when he did not get his own way. I understand that not all of the refugees maybe terrorists, but they will need to be heavily screened and they to be split up, not to be place in little gettos, same as they did with the migrants in the 50s.
    Evelyn, I think you should open your heart and take a family into your home.
    The fact is, every country in the world which has the Islamic religion has problems.
    If they do not get their own way they turn to violence.

  4. @ Fred The Philistine: Please stop telling me to read the 10 commandments, I believe we talked about this subject once.
    As for opening my heart and my home, you need not to worry it is wide opened; what about yours?
    Maybe you should change your name for Fred the Pharisee, you know, the one praying in the temple.
    He begins by thanking God, but not for all that he has, but for all that he is.
    He says: “I thank you that I am not like the other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even this tax collector.” Then, he goes on to tell God how good he is: “I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”
    Isn’t he the goody two shoes like you?

  5. Thanks for the celebration Alice Springs Town Council. It was wonderful to see people of all backgrounds sharing in the enjoyment – and the kid’s excitement at Santa, the tree lights and the fireworks.
    Fred, you seem to have forgotten that its the people the refugees are running from that do not share in the spirit of humanity and goodwill – call it Christmas or whatever.
    The name and religion doesn’t matter but the spirit of humanity does. Hope you get over your bahhumbugs.

  6. @ Melanie: Please remember that these people do not believe in Xmas. So one day we may not be able to have Xmas parties or carols by candle light, as it may offend them. We cannot send Xmas presents to our troops wrapped in Xmas paper because it offends them.
    @ Evelyn: If people take a leaf out of my book, this place would be a better place.
    As I am in my seventies, I have given thousands of dollars to charity. I have given thousand of dollars to the Women’s and Children’s hospital in Adelaide, Flinders eye unit.
    I have helped many farmers in drought and hardship. You standing on the council lawns, crying about the terrorism in France, what did you actually achieve? Nothing. God helps those who help themselves.
    What benefit are these people going to be to Australia, if they won’t speak English? It’s a privilege to be here. My family won’t be on the lawns crying, they will be doing something constructive.

  7. @ Fred the Philistine / Pharisee: If you think the lighting of candles was a cry for the act of terrorism in France, you understood nothing.
    If you are so proud of your achievements, why do you hide behind a pseudonym?
    You should be holding your head high and proud, not walking in fear like a dog with a tail between its legs.
    If you want pope to follow your example, they have to know whom they follow.

  8. @ Evelyn: Words achieve nothing. It’s people like me who have the guts to implement change that counts.
    Maybe I need to use a pseudonym, as there are a lot of backstabbers and a small number of prominent people who run the town, who, like yourself, have the gab, but no action.
    The problem in France is not over yet, and the world still lives in fear.

  9. Wow! Just read the comments and find it a bit incredible that the conversation managed to go west so fast.
    And here I was thinking what a good thing it is that Council has once again lit up the tower over the Gap. Alice’s very own unique Christmas tree.
    Doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, if you have children and/or grandchildren, you realise Christmas is for all.

  10. @ Fred the Philistine: You are gutless, certainly not a fair dinkum Aussie and if I was not a lady respecting the rules of forum on Alice Springs News Online, I would tell you a bit more. Keep blowing your hot air.

  11. @ Evelyn, I stand by what I said. Maybe you need to watch the news a bit more. Listen to Donald Trump in America. As I am a Christian I am getting ready to celebrate the birth of Christ and do not have time to argue with you. Merry Xmas and a happy new year.

  12. CLP Candidate for Araluen Steve Brown is a bit like the Donald Trump of NT politics. It will be interesting to see how he goes.

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