Welcome to the house of fun

By Emma Sun
THERE isn’t a spot on Ruth Murray’s house that isn’t covered in handmade Christmas decorations or lights.
The display in Power Road Doveton, has been set up annually for more than 10 years, and attracted the attention of children far and wide, with more than 1000 kids making a tradition of going past there every year.
She now enlists the help of a team of workers who assist her with putting up decorations and packing presents for children who go to visit.
It takes them about a month to set everything up, and they usually keep the display into the new year for the children to enjoy.
Jenny Colvin, who considers Ms Murray her mum, said the display is very interactive, with chalk the children can draw with, bubble machines and laser lights the kids can run around.
“Mostly all the wooden things are all hand-made and hand-painted by Ruth,” she said.
“Everything’s home-made, she puts a lot of work into it. Santa comes from 8pm to 10pm and we have clowns and many, many gifts for the children.”
Ms Murray’s grandson Andrew decorated the roof with lights and a chimney sign and other grandson Joshua put up the workshop.
“It’s a real family thing that the grandkids really get into,” Ms Colvin said.
“You have no idea how many people come here and they know it from each previous year.
“Children get very excited and it makes me very proud to see.”