Elf on the Shelf is back

Bri-an the Elf is back on the shelf and will be hanging out, and around town at eight businesses around Narrabri in the lead-up to Christmas.

With special holiday helpers from Narrabri & District Community Aid Service (NDCAS), Bri-an is taking some time away from wrapping presents for Santa for the third annual Elf on the Shelf competition, to visit the children in the area, but first, they’ll have to find him.

The competition began on Monday, October 23, and runs through to Thursday, December 14 in both Narrabri and Wee Waa.

Children from each town can look out for either Bri-an in Narrabri or his fellow elf; Cotton Candy in Wee Waa.

This year, you can spot Bri-an the Elf in Narrabri at Toyworld, the back bakery at Watson’s Kitchen, Kinfolk Collective, Sign Print Stitch, McKechnie Bros, Meat on Maitland, Tourist Information Centre and Logan & Co.

You will also spy Cotton Candy the Elf in the Wee Waa Post Office, Wee Waa Newsagency and Gift Shop, Wee Waa Mitre 10, Wee Waa Pharmacy, Jo Miller Williams Real Estate, PJ’s Country Wares and Agies Rural.

The Elf on the Shelf competition was started by NDCAS to help encourage and increase social participation for children within the community.

While the elf’s location is to remain secret, NDCAS will provide a clue for every week of the competition on their Facebook and Instagram pages as well as in Tuesday’s Courier, from Monday, October 23, for eight weeks.

Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition loved by many, and these Elves are designed to help Santa manage his nice list.

The Elves generally return to the north pole each night to report back to Santa before returning by morning, in a new position or area.

The elf must not be touched by anyone, or it will lose its “magic”.

The eight supporting businesses will host the sneaky Elf Bri-an in their shop for the period of a week, allowing children and families to seek out the elf and request a sticker on their Elf passports.

At the end of the eight-week period, one participant from each age group ranging from 0 years to high school age and including community groups will go into the draw to receive a $50 Why Leave Town Gift Card.

Participants must have at least three stamps on their passports to enter the competition, and passports can have a combination of stamps from both Narrabri and Wee Waa businesses participating.

Only one passport per child per location/town will be accepted into the draw, and participants cannot enter both Narrabri and Wee Waa competitions.

One participant per age/community group will win a $50 Why Leave Town Gift Card which can be spent at participating stores or a prize pack from a participating business.

In keeping with the local theme, NDCAS put a call out on its Facebook page in 2021, asking for Elf name suggestions that relate to the local area.

Bri-an, named after Narrabri’s slang abbreviation ‘Bri’, was selected as the winning name and ‘Cotton Candy,’ for Wee Waa’s rich cotton heritage – and every elf’s love of candy.

Completed passports MUST be returned to the dropoff box at the NDCAS office at 53-55 Maitland Street Narrabri by 4.30 pm on Thursday, December 15 or be handed to participating businesses on the seventh and eighth week of the competition (December 4-14).

Passports can be found at the Wee Waa Newsagency and Gift Shop, from the pickup box outside the NDCAS office door, and businesses that will host the elf for the first couple of weeks.

Bri-an and Cotton Candy are very excited to see all the kids around town before reporting back to Santa about the clever elf-searchers every night.

NDCAS thanks Santa, Bri-an and the participating businesses for their help in organising the 2023 Elf on the Shelf competition.