Santa spotting season is upon us! The bayside’s favourite festive pastime – counting Santas on rooftops, verandahs, and shopfronts – is about to hit new heights, with more Santas being produced this year than ever before.
Every year, members of the Rotary Club of Wynnum and Manly go into elf-mode to continue a tradition that transforms the bayside suburbs into a festive wonderland. Volunteers come together to craft, paint, and install jolly Santa figures across rooftops, in shop windows, and on verandahs. What began in the 1980s as a small fundraiser has grown into an annual community project, with over 2,000 volunteer hours poured into producing 80 new Santas in 2024 alone.
Every Santa is a tribute to the collaborative spirit that makes Wynnum-Manly special. And with the Wynnum Manly Men’s Shed pitching in to help Rotary keep up with the demand for Santas, this creative assembly line is gearing up for its biggest Santa effort yet! Funds raised from the rent of Santas support Rotary’s year-round community initiatives.
So, keep your eyes peeled for the jolly red and green figures popping up across Wynnum, Manly, and beyond, and find out how you can rent a Santa here.
Pictured: Eric Batten, Santa, (aka David Westlake) and Mick Matthews with Rotary Santas.
