By Matthew Sims
Wooden Christmas tree decorations are lining Gembrook’s Main Street and tinsel and wreaths decking out a number of shop fronts as the community well and truly embraces the Christmas spirit this year.
Thanks to a grant from Cardinia Council for a Community Christmas Decoration Project, the Gembrook Craft Group Inc, with support from Gembrook Community Group, Christmas wreaths, bows and trees decked out the town this Christmas.
Gembrook Primary School pupils have been busy decorating each of the 15 wooden Christmas trees outside the front of the school, which were made from packing pallets by the Emerald Men’s Shed.
Art teacher Ann Liston said each pupil were involved at painting two decorations on their tree, with each tree then using a unique colour scheme.
“The kids designed all their own things,” she said.
“I was really proud of the effort that they put into it.
“All the kids were just phenomenal.”
Gembrook Op Shop also donated additional Christmas materials which were used to make the wreaths, while the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Association co-ordinated the Christmas candles decorations.
Gembrook Community Group chair Joan Pepi said the project helped to unite the town ahead of the festive season.
“Our main thrust behind it was to get the community involved, so there’s ownership of it and a sense of community,” she said.
“Bringing them together like this is really important.”
Gembrook Craft Group’s Norma Breukers said the township would enjoy having the decorations for years to come.
Homeowners on Station Street also decked out their homes with Christmas lights to join in the celebrations.
Ms Pepi said the Gembrook Community Group were now considering how to celebrate Christmas as a community in 2024.
“We’d like to see the business community also get more involved,” she said.
