As he has for the past five years, Matthew Tabbernor recently spent hours dragging strings of lights up ladders, inflating Santa and an array of his North Pole companions, and making sure Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus were in prime position on his front lawn.
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Mr Tabbernor’s Hughes Street home’s array of decorations – somewhere in the ballpark of 10 inflatables, five sets of string lights and 10 lengths of rope lights – took him an entire weekend to assemble.
Why go to such lengths? Because his children – Addisyn, Ashton and Fletcher – “just love it”.
In the end that’s the main reason I do it, because they just love it.
- Matthew Tabbernor
“The kids love to come out and look at it, and help where they can. They talk about it for news at school,” Mr Tabbernor said.
“In the end that’s the main reason I do it, because they just love it.”
Each year Mr Tabbernor and his wife Kate add “a few more things” to enhance their festive display, although some of them have proved to be temporary additions.
“We’ve lost a couple because of the wind,” Mr Tabbernor said.
“We had a star on top of the roof but it blew away. I don’t know where that is now.”
They’re also conscious of the impact on their electricity bill, placing a premium on solar installations.
“I’m very lucky – I don’t look at the electricity bill,” Mr Tabbernor laughed.
“I think it probably goes up for the month of December, but it’s worth it because the kids love it.”
“We replace stuff now with solar, which helps cut the bills and makes it a bit better for the environment.”
As we have each year, the Central Western Daily is building a digital map of the Orange houses which – like the Tabbernors’ – light up the night sky with festive cheer.
If you would like your house included, click here.
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