In early December a conversation on the Helensville and Parakai Community Facebookpage led to the organisation of a community event to decorate the town, with Vicki Sisson appealing to people to come along and join in “for our town’s pride.”
After meeting outside the WINZ building one evening around 30 people, who added their own decorations to those kindly donated by Parakai 4 Square and The Dollar City, set to and did the business. Among those who turned up was a group of rangatahi (young people) from Te Whânau Tôhea, which is part of youth provider Outwest Youth Community Trust.
Public response was very positive and there are high hopes that dressing our town for Christmas will become an annual event.