By Parker McKenzie and Cal Ludwig
Yarra Ranges Council’s Christmas Window Competition bought festive cheer across the shire this year, with four winners picked from Chirnside Park, Warburton, Sassafras and Monbulk.
The four winners were picked from four different categories: urban, hills, valley and upper. The winners were voted on by the Yarra Ranges community and each received a hamper of locally sourced goods.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Jim Child said the competition celebrates the creative, colourful and luminous window creations of local businesses.
“Yarra Ranges businesses really decked out their windows for this holiday season and collectively, they have made a valuable contribution to the heart of the Yarra Ranges, raising spirits and drawing in customers during an important season for trading,” he said.
“Thank you to all of the businesses that entered, and congratulations to all of our 2022 winners.”
Revive 2 Survive, the Urban winner from Chirnside Park, won with their nativity season featuring a baby resuscitation mannequin in the role of Jesus.
Fiona Lally said the idea to use the mannequin came from her nine-year-old daughter.
“We thought that would make a wonderful Jesus and then we decided to do that on one side of the window, then we had Mary and Joseph in robes with a star up above and then on the other side, because we couldn’t fit a Christmas tree, our giant plant was made a Christmas plant,” she said.
“All the windows were absolutely beautiful and I know some went with the beautiful trees, lights and that sort of thing. Given our location, we thought we’ll go for a humorous thing.”
Revive 2 Survive received 112 votes from the public during the competition.
Owner of Hills winner Tea Leaves Deonni Ring said they created their display using different stock from the shop.
“We import tea by trade, but we also have tea accessories and other things as well including a Christmas range,” she said.
“We get a lot of enjoyment out of doing it and we tried to do something really different just to show the personality of the shop.”
Tea Leaves received 40 votes during the competition to be named the hills winner.
The Chookhouse took out the Upper Yarra category, with the special Christmas-themed window put together by Tayla Osbourn who has worked at the store for nearly four years.
Ms Osbourn said all of the gorgeous decorations came from a mystery delivery.
“My boss ordered it, and you have no idea what is in it until it arrives. My boss is really good with what she buys for the window, and when I put it together it’s just matching colours and likenesses, and it is a really enjoyable part of the job,” she said.
“In the last eight months I’ve picked it up really quickly, and the whole window probably only took me two hours with an hour here or there for tweaks. Of course, we’ve been selling stuff out of it, so I’ve been jumping in and out of the window every three or four days to readjust things.”
The competition received 31 entries and over 300 votes for this year’s competition, and The Chookhouse received 24 votes.
Ms Osbourn said people have commented on the display quite a bit.
“I never realised but just the tiniest bit of fairy lights and stuff makes people notice. I’ve had so many people apparently see it in the evening when it’s all lit up and the streets empty. people would see it on a Friday night and then come in on a Saturday morning and said how gorgeous it is,” she said.
“On a Friday night, we try to have everything lit up with all the ornaments and whatnot, and quite a few locals have said how much they appreciate it, with dare I say, makes me feel pretty good.”
Tatiana’s in Monbulk was the Valley winner, with 121 votes.
