Storm sinks parade

YOU couldn’t have had two more different days, which resulted in equally different outcomes for Gerringong and Kiama’s Christmas parades last weekend.

Beautiful sunshine on Saturday attracted a large crowd to the Rotary Club of Gerringong Sunrise Street Parade and Market Day.

Then on Sunday it was a case of needing boats rather than floats for the Kiama and District Chamber of Commerce’s street parade and band concert.

At Gerringong, 21 groups were represented, with the show-stopper being the Mayflower Retirement Village bus/float.

The bus was transformed into a box of chocolates bursting with colourfully wrapped chocolates, liquorice allsorts and sweets to convey the theme “Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get!”.

Kiama Chamber of Commerce President Warwick Colbron said it was a “crying shame” that the Kiama event was washed out.

“Months of planning went down the drain,” he said.

“My heart goes out to the parade participants and to the council and SES personnel who put so much effort into these events only to be stood down at the last moment.”

The Chamber’s “Lights of Kiama” are now illuminated, however, and New Year’s Eve is just around the corner – and a huge fireworks display will be presented by the Chamber at 9pm that evening at Kiama Harbour.