Community spirit shines through at Boggabri Christmas Carols

Boggabri’s St Barnabas Community Church and the Gunnedah Shire Band provided a wonderful evening of carols in Vickery Park on Saturday night, December 12.

With COVID rules and recommendations in place, 170 people gathered under the stars with their candles to celebrate the Christmas spirit.

Normally there would be enthusiastic participation by the audience but with COVID restrictions the singing was left up to the St Barnabas Singers and friends accompanied by the Gunnedah Shire Band.

The strong gusty wind made it difficult for the band and their loose music sheets but ever the professionals, they did not miss a note.

Caroline Stone sang, Tell Me The Story of Christmas while children from St Barnabas Community Church acted out the story.

Many compliments and loud applause followed the performance.

In true community spirit, this was followed by the students from the Boggabri Public School performance of Jingle Bells and Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer.

Roger Matthews, Glen Grosser, Bill Crawter, Heike Watson, Liz Grosser, Paula Neader, May Boxsell, Sue McKenzie, Sandra Jamieson, Adele O’Connell, Pat Adams, and Caroline Stone. Roger Matthews, Glen Grosser, Bill Crawter, Heike Watson, Liz Grosser, Paula Neader, May Boxsell, Sue McKenzie, Sandra Jamieson, Adele O’Connell, Pat Adams, and Caroline Stone.

Singers from St Barnabas and the Boggabri Community - standing, Bill Crawter, Glen Grosser, Sue McKenzie, Paula Neader, Pat Adams, Heike Watson, Liz Grosser, Caroline Stone, seated, Sandra Jamieson, Roger Matthews and Adel O’Connell. Singers from St Barnabas and the Boggabri Community - standing, Bill Crawter, Glen Grosser, Sue McKenzie, Paula Neader, Pat Adams, Heike Watson, Liz Grosser, Caroline Stone, seated, Sandra Jamieson, Roger Matthews and Adel O’Connell.

Aussie Jingle Bell actors – Eddie Harris, Tom Watt, Dougie Watson, Xanthia Watson, Rose Dyer, Evie Watt, Lachlan Stone, Anabelle Stone and Henry Stone. Aussie Jingle Bell actors – Eddie Harris, Tom Watt, Dougie Watson, Xanthia Watson, Rose Dyer, Evie Watt, Lachlan Stone, Anabelle Stone and Henry Stone.

Caroline and Rev Nick Stone. Caroline and Rev Nick Stone.

Boggabri Public school – back, Lillian Rowland, Monique Rowland, Layla Stove, Chase Campbell, Jack Bomford, front, Rivah Cassidy, Beau Hobden, Kayleb Stove, Lachlan Stone and Eddie Harris. Boggabri Public school – back, Lillian Rowland, Monique Rowland, Layla Stove, Chase Campbell, Jack Bomford, front, Rivah Cassidy, Beau Hobden, Kayleb Stove, Lachlan Stone and Eddie Harris.

Evie Watt as Mary and Lachlan Stone as Joseph. Evie Watt as Mary and Lachlan Stone as Joseph.

Shayla and Dalton Hoskinson with their children Violet and Alice Hoskinson. Shayla and Dalton Hoskinson with their children Violet and Alice Hoskinson.

Caroline Stone singing ‘Tell me the Story of Christmas’. Caroline Stone singing ‘Tell me the Story of Christmas’.

Marian Baker, Jeanette, and Stan Thomas. Marian Baker, Jeanette, and Stan Thomas.

Denise Lions and Bernadette Elliott. Denise Lions and Bernadette Elliott.

Glen and Lyn Hamblin. Glen and Lyn Hamblin.

Marty and Zara Beckett with son Tom Beckett. Marty and Zara Beckett with son Tom Beckett.

Helen and Allan Cassidy. Helen and Allan Cassidy.

Helen Martin and Margaret Ryan. Helen Martin and Margaret Ryan.

Elsie Jensen and Fay Sanderson. Elsie Jensen and Fay Sanderson.

Mary and Richard Pie from Brisbane. Mary and Richard Pie from Brisbane.

Beau, Toby and Chrystal Hobden with Lucy and Kate Bomford. Beau, Toby and Chrystal Hobden with Lucy and Kate Bomford.

Geoff Eather, Joanna Gillham, and Elaine Eather. Geoff Eather, Joanna Gillham, and Elaine Eather.

Ben Dyer and daughter Ivy Dyer. Ben Dyer and daughter Ivy Dyer.

Helen Fielding, Summer, Hayley, and Neil Kinstler. Helen Fielding, Summer, Hayley, and Neil Kinstler.

Benjamin and Michelle Carter with twins, Carson, and Henry Carter. Benjamin and Michelle Carter with twins, Carson, and Henry Carter.

An amusing rendition of the Aussie Jingle Bells song complete with steering wheel, esky, kelpie, singlet, shorts and thongs, kangaroo, swaggie, pool float and jingle bells was enacted by the St Barnabas and Boggabri students.

Andrew Watson did the Bible reading and the talk was done by Rev Nick Stone.

Kane Watson and Sheerene Maginnity performed Merry Christmas Everywhere prior to the last item of the night, We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

Rev Stone thanked everyone for coming and making it such a joyous night. Special thanks went to the Gunnedah Shire Band, the singers, students, volunteers from the church, Kane Watson and Sheerene Maginnity, David Boxsell, Boggabri Lions Club, Haire’s Bus service, Boggabri Coal and Whitehaven Coal for their support of the evening.

Children were treated to a bag of lollies at the end of the night much to their delight.