Tonight’s the night! The Pastoral Times will give away $5000 in our Think B4 U Click Christmas major prize draw.
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The final draw will take place during the Edward River Community Christmas Party and Sunrice Carols by Candlelight in the Deniliquin Waring Gardens, which runs between 6pm and 9pm.
The campaign encourages locals to support participating businesses in the lead-up to Christmas.
Every ticket in the draw represents at least $20 spent at a local business.
Tickets can be entered into the barrel, which will be in the gardens tonight, right up until the draw. It is expected to take place about 8pm.
Before you settle down for some singing, you can enjoy all the fun and festivities the Edward River Community Christmas Party offers.
There will be an animal nursery, inflatable rides, kids’ crafts and face painting, food and refreshment stalls and even a special visit from Santa.
The event will conclude with a dazzling fireworks display, weather permitting.
Please be mindful of the safety of pets, making sure they’re safe and secured at home from 9pm.
Christmas lights
The other major announcements being made tonight are the winners of the Deniliquin Business Chamber’s Deni Lights Up Competition.
Many of you have already been enjoying seeing all the decorated homes, thanks to the map that appeared in our Tuesday edition.
Our apologies to Karen and Robert Martin at 6 Greaves Crescent.
Despirte being featured in the PT last week, their name was left off the map.
Make sure to stop by for a look.
If you go by on Christmas Eve, you may even meet the Grinch and get some lollies as well.
Calendar, rainfall chart released soon
Community members from far and wide have been awaiting the much anticipated release of the annual PT calendar and rainfall chart.
We’re happy to confirm both will be available with the Tuesday, December 30 edition of the newspaper.
Like in previous years, the month-to-month wall calendar includes some great historic images of Deniliquin and district.
They have been sourced through the Deniliquin & District Historical Society, State Library of NSW and from local private collections.
There’s some cracking images this year, so make sure to get your copy.
Additional copies of the calendar and chart will be available when our office reopens in the new year.
Ring in the New Year at the RSL
What better way to celebrate the arrival of 2026 than at the Deni RSL New Year’s Eve party featuring Creedence Clearwater Survival.
The tribute band recreates the atmosphere, the anthems, and all the classic hits like Proud Mary, Fortunate Son, Green River, and more.
It’s set to be a night of singalongs and celebration to cap 2025 ahead of a year filled with new beginnings.
The Dunlop Room doors will open at 9pm, with Creedence Clearwater Survival performing from 9.30pm until 12pm midnight to bring in the New Year.
Entry is $20 for members and $25 for guests.
Tickets are selling fast, so book yours today at the Deni RSL reception in End St so you don’t miss out.
The club opens from 9.30am daily, so head down earlier for dinner and drinks before the show starts.
Barnes’ DHS message
Deniliquin High School’s budding high school musicians received a message of encouragement earlier this week from Australian musical legend Jimmy Barnes.
The iconic Australian singer sent his greetings to everyone at Deniliquin High School, with the message having got to him that some of the high school musicians would be performing some of his songs from his album Soul Deep.
Jimmy gave his seal of approval and well wishes, hoping they “smashed” the performances on the night and “had a great time doing them”.
Hopefully, the message from Jimmy also helped lift some spirits ahead of Christmas.
Phone Santa for a good cause
If you can’t meet Santa in person, calling him is the next best thing.
Telstra’s Santa Hotline is now open, and you can ring jolly old St Nick from any Tesltra payphone in the country for free, and the Telco will donate $1 to Kids Helpline for every free call made.
There’s not as many of them in Deniliquin as there once was, but there are five that are still operational.
Dial #HO HO HO (#46 46 46) and make sure you’re ready with a few questions for Santa, and to tell him what’s on your wish list.
Deni’s payphones can be found at the corner of Crispe and Henry Sts, the corner of Harfleur and Wellington Sts, outside Deniliquin Hospital, at the Deniliquin Post Office and in Victoria St, next to the Caltex service station.
Last December, the counselling service for people aged 5 to 25 received nearly 10,000 calls, including nearly 200 calls made on Christmas Day.