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‘Twas a fortnight before Christmas, after the trickiest of years; Canberrans left their concerns at home, crowds shunned COVID fears; At Stage 88, picnicking by the lake; Loved ones formed a carol chorus and what a sound they did make. Canberra’s Carols by Candlelight went ahead in real life on Saturday evening despite initial concerns the event would only be broadcast virtually. The annual Christmas concert was performed in front of a reduced crowd of 2000 people, with social-distancing measures in place. The normally free event was ticketed for the first time this year with organisers, the Woden Valley Youth Choir, charging $12.50 to cover the COVID-19 requirements of this year’s event. More than 70 choristers and band members between the ages of eight and 23 entertained the crowds. Organiser Melinda Boag said rather than being disappointed the crowd had shrunk from its usual 10,000, the performers were excited about being broadcast live for the first time. “This year we have six cameramen taking on the event and a lot of extra help, so we’ve been really lucky,” she said. ABC Canberra’s Lish Fejer co-hosted the night alongside musician, Ian McLean. Canberra singer Lucy Sugerman also performed, as did solo artists Dana Hassall, Samantha Sly, Joanne Prochina and Martin Everett. COVID-19 safety officer Kylie Gibson said the hundreds of volunteers had gone through hours of training to make sure one of Canberra’s only large public events of 2020 went off without a hitch. “They’ve done a lot of messaging before the event to make sure everyone is aware of what a community-responsible COVID-safe event is all about,” she said. “We’ve been trained for weeks in advance on how to do this and we’ve got a real system, I suppose, to make sure everyone can go through in a COVID-safe way right from when they arrive all the way through the gates to be seated and then exiting at the end of the night.” All of the volunteers had training on infection control and how to manage large crowds. The ACT government gave the event the green light just three weeks ago. “I am an eternal optimist,” Ms Gibson said. “We’ve been planning the entire time as if it would go ahead.” Ms Boag said despite greying clouds rolling over she was not concerned about the weather. Sophia and Adam Oostendorp attended the Carols by Candelight with their two children Sarah and Elizabeth. Down from Sydney for the weekend, Mrs Oostendorp said it was the first event which had felt like Christmas was on the way. “We started walking from the hotel to have dinner and we heard the music, we just kept following it over,” she said. “We haven’t really been to any carols before, the girls have had events with school but parents weren’t allowed to attend. “After so long it feels a bit strange to be allowed to go to a big public event again.” In addition to the Christmas carols there was a special visit from Santa midway through the two-hour performance. Tickets to the show included a goodie bag with a bottle of water, songsheets, a candle, lollies and a money box.
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‘Twas a fortnight before Christmas, after the trickiest of years;
Canberrans left their concerns at home, crowds shunned COVID fears;
At Stage 88, picnicking by the lake;
Loved ones formed a carol chorus and what a sound they did make.
Canberra’s Carols by Candlelight went ahead in real life on Saturday evening despite initial concerns the event would only be broadcast virtually.
The annual Christmas concert was performed in front of a reduced crowd of 2000 people, with social-distancing measures in place.
The normally free event was ticketed for the first time this year with organisers, the Woden Valley Youth Choir, charging $12.50 to cover the COVID-19 requirements of this year’s event.
More than 70 choristers and band members between the ages of eight and 23 entertained the crowds.
Organiser Melinda Boag said rather than being disappointed the crowd had shrunk from its usual 10,000, the performers were excited about being broadcast live for the first time.
“This year we have six cameramen taking on the event and a lot of extra help, so we’ve been really lucky,” she said.
ABC Canberra’s Lish Fejer co-hosted the night alongside musician, Ian McLean.
Canberra singer Lucy Sugerman also performed, as did solo artists Dana Hassall, Samantha Sly, Joanne Prochina and Martin Everett.
COVID-19 safety officer Kylie Gibson said the hundreds of volunteers had gone through hours of training to make sure one of Canberra’s only large public events of 2020 went off without a hitch.
“They’ve done a lot of messaging before the event to make sure everyone is aware of what a community-responsible COVID-safe event is all about,” she said.
“We’ve been trained for weeks in advance on how to do this and we’ve got a real system, I suppose, to make sure everyone can go through in a COVID-safe way right from when they arrive all the way through the gates to be seated and then exiting at the end of the night.”
All of the volunteers had training on infection control and how to manage large crowds.
The ACT government gave the event the green light just three weeks ago.
“I am an eternal optimist,” Ms Gibson said.
“We’ve been planning the entire time as if it would go ahead.”
People begin to arrive for the Carols might by Stage 88. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong
Ms Boag said despite greying clouds rolling over she was not concerned about the weather.
Sophia and Adam Oostendorp attended the Carols by Candelight with their two children Sarah and Elizabeth.
Down from Sydney for the weekend, Mrs Oostendorp said it was the first event which had felt like Christmas was on the way.
“We started walking from the hotel to have dinner and we heard the music, we just kept following it over,” she said.
“We haven’t really been to any carols before, the girls have had events with school but parents weren’t allowed to attend.
“After so long it feels a bit strange to be allowed to go to a big public event again.”
In addition to the Christmas carols there was a special visit from Santa midway through the two-hour performance.
Tickets to the show included a goodie bag with a bottle of water, songsheets, a candle, lollies and a money box.
