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COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Meg Hill, Graham Campbell, Peta Mitchell and David Clapp.
Monday, December 9, 2019
Whyalla's Lions GFG Alliance "Carols In The Park" has a long and proud history stretching back more than 80 years.
While the historic record is patchy, "Carols" were certainly conducted in the Whyalla Hospital Gardens as far back as December 1940, and by the 1950s Memorial Oval was hosting about 1500 people in a concert event not unlike its 2019 relation.
For many years Whyalla Jaycees oversaw the event. When Jaycees finished in the last few years at Whyalla Hospital Gardens, the APEX Club of Whyalla took the reins.
Through the years always popular with the Whyalla community, Carols moved to its Civic Park home in the 1980s and by 2003 the event had consumed the city’s annual Proclamation Day Concert.
Officially changing its name to "Carols In The Park" in 2003, the event has formally contracted Stormfront Productions to produce its Stageshow since 2006 (with Alison Hams having been heavily involved for many years prior).
In 2008 APEX handed stewardship over to the Whyalla and Mount Laura Lions Clubs and since that time Lions have worked hand-in-hand with Stormfront to see the event become the biggest free public concert event in regional SA.
Now attracting over 5000 people to Civic Park every Christmas, "Carols In The Park" is a huge and special spectacle that allows Whyalla to celebrate Christmas as a community. Since 2016 the event has been an entirely on-and-off-stage Whyalla production.
"We are so proud of our unique team and their abilities which allow us to punch way above the weight of a town Whyalla's size," Lion Allan Smith said.
“Compared to any comparable event Carols runs on a shoestring budget and yet further gives back to its community in the form of its annual Carols Community Collection which has donated over $35,000 to worthy local causes in the last 13 years alone.
"Proceeds from this year's event will be announced in the media early in 2020.”.
In 2019 major sponsors GFG Alliance and Whyalla City Council are joined by Des’s Transport, Terry White Chemmart Chemist, Genesse & Wyoming Australia Pty. Ltd., PFD Food Services, Southern Cross Television News, Silvern Guardian Security, Coates Hire, King Signs, Whyalla News, OneStop Foodland, Master’s in the Art of Hair, Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec and Specialised Tyre & Rubber Repairers to make Carols a reality.
Musical Director Alison Hams and MC Mark Tempany will again produce the show with dedicated long-term sound and lights production provided by Gavin Chandler and Matthew Nitschke. In 2019 Augusta Production Services, plus Kazzas Helium and Makeup By Aleesha add to the event's long list of providers.
Each year the Carols Community Choir (CCC) forms especially for the show. Anyone is welcome to join and the CCC is always a great cross section of our community, on-stage enjoying the best seat in the house.
In recent years “The Glitterbugs” have arrived. This young Christmas dance troupe materialise for every Carols and command the stage throughout the night adding colour and life. The Glitterbugs’ most important duty is helping Father Christmas onto, and off stage, if he arrives safely from the North Pole each year.
“Carols In The Park is a unique and special event,” Stageshow Coordinator Mark Tempany said.
“It belongs to the people of Whyalla – and everyone involved feels a huge obligation and honour to be a part of the enormous team effort required to uphold its place in Whyalla’s psyche."
This year catering is provided by volunteers and members of Whyalla and Mt Laura Lions Clubs, Royal Flying Doctor Service Whyalla Support Group, Whyalla Apex Club, Rotary Club Whyalla Norrie and Mobile Coffee Cafe. The Whyalla Blue Light Committee provide the glow items, making the night such a spectacle, and St John Ambulance Volunteers and Whyalla SES keep everyone in Civic Park safe.
A full year of planning goes into every Carols In The Park with an event committee meeting from February each year, and winding-up for a brief reprieve just before New Year.
The 2019 "Carols In The Park" Event Committee comprises: Graham Campbell (Chairman), David Clapp (Treasurer), Peta Mitchell (Secretary), Allan Smith, Meg Hil, Geoff Fuller, Mark Tempany (Stormfront Productions), Alison Hams (Stormfront Productions).
This year's free admission event is on Sunday, December 15 at Civic Park from 7.15pm.
Visit www.whyallacarols.com for all the latest on this amazing Whyalla event!
