PERFECT weather brought an estimated crowd of 500 to the Carols in the Park at Black Head.
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The numbers so large, Santa ran out of lollies and glow stick give a ways for the children that lined up for the gifts.
Paul Eade's up-beat style to Jingle Bell Rock had the children up dancing. He was then joined by Elizabeth Grace Hall and Alan Tickle for Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Santa Clause is Coming to Town as they mingled with the large group of children.
Santa took some persuading to appear, with several rounds of Jingle Bells needed before he and Mrs Clause delighted the children with their bags of goodies.
Ruth Crossman's beautiful rendition of O Holy Night set the scene early in the program with most of the crowd joining in singing traditional carols throughout the night. John Clukas who has performed for years in a Barbers Shop Quartet on the Central Coast, participated for the first time at Black Head.
The Taree City Band and Bryan Paech on keyboard lead the accompaniment.
In their addresses to the gathering Alan Tickle and Anthony Zanos touched on the reaction of the nation, and many people from around the world, to both Martin Place and Phillip Hughes tragedy and the expressions of good wishes that have come from that.
Alan illustrated how the reaction to the tragic death of those young Australians dwarfed the recognition that they had received for their significant achievements when alive, to the Christian meaning of Christmas - that is to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus but not lose sight of the greater celebration of the impact of his death.
Anthony summed it up beautifully as the Black Head celebrations ended when he said that this good will and concern for those around us that has been experienced in the aftermath of those tragedies needs to happen every day.
"So much more comes back to us when we reach out to someone else with an act of kindness" Anthony said.
The finale of We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year was sung with great gusto and feeling.