CITY’S CHRISTMAS TREE REBORN WITH AUSSIE ICONS: JUMPING JOEYS, SUN BLOSSOMS & LED LIGHTING
Media opportunity: Mayor, Val Schier presents this year’s artistically reworked
version of city’s eight metre Christmas Tree
When: Wednesday 2 December 09 from 9am
Where: City Place, Cairns CBD – Christmas Tree
Information: Artists: Louisa Ennis-Thomas Mob: 0427 337449
Kristin Tennyson
Media Contact: Pip Miller PR Mob: 0419 681 543 or pip@pipmillerpr.com.au
Calling a start to the city’s festive season and celebrations for 2009, Councillor Val Schier, Mayor of Cairns Regional Council will officially present the city’s eight metre Christmas tree at 9am on Wednesday 2 December 2009.
Taking cue from this year’s Christmas theme, a very SumMerry Christmas, Councillor Schier said the tree had been given a new lease of life thanks to the creative attention of local artists, Kristin Tennyson and Louisa Ennis-Thomas.
In a welcome departure from traditional tinsel and plastic baubles, this year sees Cairns Regional Council’s Christmas tree take on a distinctly contemporary Australian feel – decorated with stainless steel jumping kangaroo’s, bright red polymer “sun blossoms”, a giant star wrapped in 3000 metres of wire and state of the art LED lighting.
“I am very proud to unveil our “non-traditional” tree that will be sure to attract attention from both visitors and locals,” said Councillor Schier, Mayor of Cairns Regional Council.
Background Information:
This Christmas, Cairns Regional Council is decking the CBD with a distinctly Australian flavour; bringing Cairns’ city heart alive with colour, lighting, lanterns, music, movies, fun and a very large Aussie Christmas tree.
According to Cairns Regional Council’s inner-city facilities marketing and promotions manager, Simone Roseler, this year a concerted effort is being made to recognise Christmas.
“In a welcome departure from traditional Christmas decorations, a campaign engaging local artists is well underway creating meaningful decorations and activities that the community can relate to and appreciate.
“Even our Santa will break from the norm – as he rides through the city heart on a unicycle. Add to that, our ukulele choir, locally made decorations, lanterns and a long list of activities – that in combination will light up the Esplanade and City Place for the entire month of December,” she said.
A SumMerry Christmas officially begins on December 1, 2009 with the installation of the city’s Christmas tree.
The city’s festive program that runs between 1 and 24 December includes Musical Carollers, Creating Xmas Together; the community’s creation of a hanging sculpture featuring recycled objects, the Ukulele Xmas Club, Virtual Xmas Cards (carbon footprint conscious way of spreading cheer via email featuring message with esplanade as backdrop), The Vegemite before Xmas animated short film, Xmas markets, outdoor cinema and a program of Deck the Halls kids workshops.
For more information on activities, times or to view full program, visit www.cairnsesplanade.com.au
Ends
Contact:
Cairns Regional Council, Inner City Facilities, Marketing and Promotions
Simone Roseler
P: 07 4044 3715 | F: 07 4044 3759 Mob: 0418 699 028
E: s.roseler@cairns.qld.gov.au
Publicity
Pip Miller PR
Telephone: 0419 681543
Email: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au