Claus to be happy

By Casey Neill
AN UPPER Ferntree Gully Christmas character who sings the cause of Mrs Claus all year round has earned her Santaclausology degree.
Bernadette Dimitrov is the first Australian woman to graduate from the International University of Santa Claus in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
She hopes her successful studies will help champion the Christmas cause of Mrs Clauses in Australia.
The festive fan wants stores and shopping centres to accept Mrs Claus alongside hubby Santa – the way they do in other countries.
“There are many women Santas in other countries and Mrs Claus is a popular attraction in the USA and Europe and attracts bigger crowds into the stores than Santa on his own,” she said.
The Santa uni’s chancellor, 40-year Santa veteran Tim Connaghan, has taught Santa school throughout the USA, Canada and Europe. His is the largest annual training school for Santas in the world.
“There has only been a few Santas from Australia who have attended our university,” he said.
“We are delighted to have the first Australian Mrs Claus graduate.”
Last year, and again this year, Ms Dimitrov was invited to represent Australia at the world’s biggest Santa convention, and competed for gold representing Australia in a Santa-style Olympics.
“Being Santa or Mrs Claus is an honour and it has been my lifelong dream to take on this role,” she said.
The Christmas author and podcast host was the first Australian invited to sign the historic Santa Claus Oath with thousands of Santas and Mrs Clauses from around the world.
It is sealed and on permanent display at Santa’s Candy Castle in Indiana in the USA.
The yuletide treasure represents Australia on the Santa Claus Peace Council, International Santa Claus Oath Committee and is an adviser to the santa-america.org board, which is starting up an Australian Santa volunteer army to bring love, hope and joy to children and families in crisis all year round, and special needs children.
“There is nothing greater than unconditional love and that’s what the true spirit of Santa is all about,” she said. Ms Dimitrov said she was spiritual, not religious, and there were many beautiful and universal insights to gain from Christmas and its traditions – regardless of people’s beliefs.
“And be rewarded with a richly delicious, happy and joyous life,” she said.