Volume 48, No. 23, December 14, 2006
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HO, HO, HO: Santa hands out lollies and chips at the RAAF Base Richmond Christmas Treat 2006. His principal helper is SGT Simeon Prucha, one of the main organisers of the annual treat.
Photo by CPL Bill Louys
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By
Andrew Stackpool
“‘TIS the season to be jolly and for this year’s Christmas treat at RAAF Base Williams, the focus was to ensure that every family member had a most memorable and enjoyable day,” Base Commander WGCDR Ross Day said.
“We wanted to ensure that everyone came and celebrated with us on this very special day.”
Williams (Laverton) held its treat on December 6. As acknowledgment to deployed personnel, their families attended free.
Base members and their families enjoyed events and activities such as the jumping castle, giant slide, pony rides, bungee challenge, a flypast of vintage aircraft from the RAAF Museum, model aircraft and a science show with the display of a rocket launch.
However, there is no doubt that, as always, the star attraction was Santa, who arrived by special train with a number of helpers.
“Happy Christmas to all and to all a good day,” he said, a sentiment echoed by the base.
Meanwhile, it was more a case of the ‘Six White Boomers’ in the Top End when RAAF Base Tindal held its treat on December 10. Members and families mixed pony and train rides, face painting and a barbeque with hot-weather activities such as the water-based commando run and dunking machine and a watermelon-eating competition.
The highlight was Santa, who took time from his busy pre-Christmas schedule to visit the base and bring early Christmas cheer with presents and showbags.
A Blue Light disco was held on completion of the treat.
For a change of venue, RAAF Base Amberley held its Christmas treat on November 29 at Wet ‘N’ Wild on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Organisers said that once again it was a major success. Numbers were up considerably from last year’s 750 to close to 1500 this year.
Organisers SGT Tracey Holland and CPL Donna Watts-Endresz said the day started for the volunteers in the early hours of the morning as they loaded vehicles with food, drinks, presents and other goodies. The presents and ‘goodie-bags’ received a lot of positive feedback from parents and children alike.
“It was great to see the smiles on the children’s faces when they received their presents and ‘goodie-bags’, and it made it all worthwhile for the many hours that were put in on them,” SGT Holland said.
“All of the volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that the day was a huge success.
“A special mention needs to be made of the ‘poolies’ from the RAAF Security and Fire School (RAAFSFS) as well as the many staff working in the Base Headquarters (CSU-AMB, CSI-AMB, 382ECSS) who helped out in the lead-up to the treat with present wrapping, ‘goodie-bag’ stuffing and other odd jobs that were required.
“These volunteers worked tirelessly leading up to the event and also on the day to make it memorable for all who attended.
“The cooks deserve a considerable amount of praise for the efforts that they put in prior to and on the day. While battling the elements under the water slides, they managed to cook up a storm, which ensured that no one went hungry.”
The highlight of the day was Santa’s arrival, complete with his sunnies and a pair of ‘special’ boots: a borrowed pair of thongs.
“Everyone left with happy yet exhausted smiles on their faces, and the question now is what we will do next year,” CPL Watts-Endresz said.
