Moama Christmas carols delight families with new venue success

“The carols on Sunday night went terrific,” she said.

“The new location at Moama Recreation Reserve was much better because it was safer.

“Kids could run around and play and there was no traffic around.”

The venue change proved popular with families, accommodating what organisers believe was the largest crowd yet.

“We think more people than last year turned up, so I'd say well over 1500,” Mrs Hardwick said.

“It is a bit hard to guess, because everybody was spread out more.

“We will definitely hold them at the rec reserve again.”

The entertainment lineup featured diverse performances co-ordinated by Dillmac Entertainment.

“We had a really nice variety of younger students of Dillmac,” Mrs Hardwick said.

“We also had four choirs singing, Moama Grammar junior choir, Singergy, the Bellas and We are Vivid's Silent Voices group.”

EMFM provided live radio coverage.

“We even had family up in Townsville listening to it,” Mrs Hardwick said.

Dillmac Entertainment principal teacher Liz Dillon praised the performances.

“The night went fantastically, really good, the performances were amazing,” she said.

“The Moama Grammar junior choir joined with the Bellas and they were spectacular.

“The kids rocked it.”

A highlight was the collaborative performance of Santa Claus is coming to town.

“They did a ‘Hi-Five’ like performance of Santa Claus is coming to town with some of our Dillmac kids jumping out the front, singing and dancing and then Santa arrived,” Ms Dillon said.

This year’s event featured a band for the first time, with Chris McDonald performing Paul Kelly's How to Make Gravy.

“It is not a Christmas carol, but it's a song about Christmas and everyone over 40 was dancing along,” Ms Dillon said.

Ms Dillon thanked the Dillmac family, who helped out with the barbecue, the raffle and packing up at the end of the night.

“I'd like to thank Kate Thompson, who did all the microphones, Chris McDonald and Troy Styles, who did all the band and all the music,” she said.

“Millie Dillon-Mckenzie, who did all the choreography and singing for all of Dillmac.

“And then Andrew Moore on sound again was superb.

The Lions Club thanked sponsors, including Murray River Council, Moama RSL, Rich River Golf Club and Moama Bowling Club.

“We would like to thank all of the local businesses that donated towards the Lions Club of Moama's raffle,” Mrs Hardwick said.

“Personally, I’d like to thank the staff of the Murray River Council who helped us organise the carols, they were absolutely terrific.

“And of course, all of the performers and Dillmac Entertainment”