Community & Business
19 November, 2025
Simple gesture makes Christmas special
WHILE Christmas is a joyous time for many, others in our community struggle through the festive season and Tablelands Regional Council wants everyone to lend a hand.
Mayor Rod Marti believes Christmas is a great time to consider the less fortunate in our community.
“Emergency relief agencies are continuing to see an increase in people in our community requiring assistance,” he said.
“Not everyone has money to spare, especially at Christmas time, and some just have trouble making ends meet, but with a donation to the Mayor’s Community Christmas Appeal, you can make a difference to people and families in need.”
Cash donations will be used to provide food vouchers for use in local supermarkets to people in need in the community.
These will be distributed by emergency relief agencies – Better Together Community Centre, ECHO Empowering Services Neighbourhood Centre, Ravenshoe Community Centre, St Vincent de Paul Society (Atherton and Ravenshoe) and Salvation Army.
“Thanks to your generosity, last year 213 vouchers worth $16,650 were distributed,” Mayor Marti said.
Cash donations can be dropped into tins at any of TRC customer service centres or funds can be deposited into the Tablelands Regional Council Community Christmas Appeal Gift Trust – BSB: 084 512, Account Number: 144 690 848 (put your name in the description).
Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
Non-perishable food and Christmas goodies like bonbons and decorations can be dropped at the TRC customer service centres and libraries in Atherton, Herberton, Malanda and Ravenshoe, and at Better Together Community Centre, Atherton; ECHO Empowering Services Neighbourhood Centre in Malanda; the Ravenshoe Community Centre, the St Vincent de Paul Society in Railway Lane, Atherton and in Grigg St, Ravenshoe; and the Salvation Army at Tolga.
The council’s Christmas Lights Competition is also now underway.
The competition is open to all homes and streets in the TRC region and nominations can be made by going to www.trc.qld.gov.au/christmas-lights by 9am on 4 December.
Judging will be done from 7pm-9pm between 8-12 December, with first, second and third place prizes awarded in both categories.
“We’ll share a list of the participating houses and streets so you can follow the Tablelands Christmas Lights Trail across the community,” Mayor Marti said.
The very popular People’s Choice category is also happening again this year. Locals can vote for their favourite home by going to www.trc.qld.gov.au/christmas-lights between 12 noon on Monday 15 December to 4pm Wednesday 17 December.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Atherton on Thursday 18 December.
