National Australia Bank Berwick branch manager Amber Ferrier, left, and Wine Justice proprietor Sandra Farlie toast the plan to light up High Street, Berwick.Jim Mynard
BERWICK Chamber of Commerce plans to light up High Street, Berwick, in an extravaganza of twinkling lights expected to attract thousands of people to town.
National Australia Bank branch manager Amber Ferrier announced the spectacular project during the chamber’s December meeting and said she expected the first stage of lighting to be in place for Christmas 2007.
Some lights will be up for this year. Offers of sponsorship to help finance the project have already been made.
Edrington Park Drive, Berwick became a special destination for people at Christmas because of its extensive Christmas decorations.
But because it is a residential street, the amount of vehicular and pedestrian traffic made life unbearable for residents and the lights had to be switched off.
The chamber’s president, Michael Hall said that by using High Street, traffic would not affect residential areas.
Ms Ferrier said the lighting would help to provide a wonderful Christmas experience.
“We will maximise the value of our magnificent trees on and around the High Street median.
“We hope to increase community involvement and support through this colourful and exciting project. Our vision is to reach out to engage all facets of our community. We aim to encourage more than half the Berwick population to experience our Christmas celebrations and to also attract visitors from the greater Melbourne. “Berwick is the gateway to Gippsland and is therefore an ideal place to hold a regional Christmas festival,” Ms Ferrier said.
She said High Street would become a mall between 7pm and 9pm from Monday 17 December to Friday 21 December next year.
“Activities will include school choirs with carol singing and exhibitions of school art work.
“We will encourage outdoor performances by actors, comedians, and singers. Father Christmas will ceremoniously turn on the ‘lights of High Street, Berwick’ after a countdown.
“We will provide enormous opportunity for wider community participation,” Ms Ferrier said.
