Fantasy fuels firefight

THE Myer Christmas windows of Macclesfield are back again this year, with CFA members Phil and Fiona Spencer once again creating everyone’s winter wonderland fantasy.
And this Christmas, as the pair gives their gift to the hills community, their fire brigade is desperately hoping for locals to give back as they look to raise the money needed for a new brigade-owned tanker.
The target is a daunting one – $320,000 – but it’s one the brigade is committed to reach.
The new Macclesfield brigade-owned tanker would provide an extra barrier of protection in days of extreme fire danger when CFA-owned vehicles can be reassigned to other towns.
And a brand new Tanker 2 – with an increased capacity to transport between 2000 and 3000 litres of water – could prove vital with a limited water supply in the area.
The Spencers are charging admission for a glimpse into the miniature Christmas-themed universe they’ve created on their property, with all proceeds going to their fire brigade.
The pair raised around $2000 last year but with much of the $320,000 still to raise, they are hoping to up that to at least $6000 this Christmas period.
Visitors to the Spencers’ property are encouraged to donate whatever they can to the cause, on top of the modest entry fee.
Ms Spencer said her now second annual display “had to be” a labour of love for her and her husband.
“We couldn’t do it otherwise,” she said.
The pair has spent six months on and off working on their display.
This year’s key additions include a miniature railway – three metres long by two metres deep – and a wooden “gingerbread” house that work started on in January.
The Christmas winter wonderland theme, and snowman display, will also feature prominently.
Ms Spencer estimated that for this festive season the display would feature around 100 new pieces; artwork, homewares and soft toys.
Mr Spencer joked to the Mail last Christmas that he’d rather not think about how much money he and his wife had pumped into their labour of love, which takes up the majority if their Macclesfield Road home. But he said the pair had to “justify the addiction”.
“If we’re going to spend the money, we have to create the interest with it,” he said.
Ms Spencer said she was unsure how much more the pair could add to their display in the future.
“At some point you have to draw a line,” she said.
“But someone wrote on our guestbook last year: ‘Don’t stop until the whole house is done!’.”
The Spencers have even had to put a door on their carport to protect part of their display.
And the first thing visitors will notice upon arrival at the Spencers is that the entry to the display is wrapped like a Christmas present.
“We want it to be a fantasy – a place people would want to go and visit,” Ms Spencer said.
“Poor old Phil. I come up with the ideas but he has to build them!”
Visitors to the display last year came from as far as Mansfield, Black Rock, Glen Waverley and Mornington.
The Spencers’ Christmas displays are open to the public at 515 Macclesfield Road, Macclesfield from; 6pm to 9pm this Friday, 3pm to 9pm on 15 and 16 December, 6pm to 9pm on 21 December, and from 3pm to 9pm on 22 and 23 December and Christmas Eve.
Admission is $5 per adult and a gold coin donation for children under seven years.
Call 0499 651 213 to organise alternative opening times for groups. Visit www.macclesfieldcfa.org.au for more information.