Take an evening stroll or cruise down Bishop Riley Way, Churchlands, this time of year and you will be amazed at what you see - for every year for the past few years, serial self promoter Kym Illman (CEO of Messages on Hold) has put up a Christmas Lights show that has to be seen (and heard) to be believed.
50,000 LEDs, 6 kms of cable and 176 programmable channels of lighting, all synched to Johnny Mathis's "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas". My kids sat on his front lawn in wonder. We'd never seen anything like it (well, since we saw his house last year anyway.)
Not to be out done, Kym's neighbour across the road has entered into the spirit too, and every night one of them can be seen outside the houses with luminous gift buckets beseeching passers by to donate to Princess Margaret Hospital. All kids get a lolly, and the night we went Kym was there, in his element, head mike firmly strapped on, politely relieving people of their spare cash as he thanked them live on his own FM radio feed which was blaring out down the street. Last year, $22,000 was raised - this year the goal is $30,000. With 300 cars passing by a night, I feel Kym and neighbour are going to reach their target.
Good on you say I - and if anyone in Perth who wants to drive out to his place in the land of the Churches, take your wallet, donate to a worthy cause and marvel at the scene.
[ CLICK HERE to watch Youtube Video of the lights in action ]
Merry Christmas everybody, and a Happy New Year to you all...
UPDATE (New Year) - I attended Kym's display on Christmas Eve - must have been 300 people there, and at 9pm he emerged dressed as Santa from his chimney to dance to 'We are Australian'. Excellent job Kym - did you raise the $30k though?
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