By Alana Mitchelson
Thrillseeker Chris Langdon is well-known for his extraordinary storm and tornado chasing hobby, but during the festive season he can be found busily decorating his Pakenham home with thousands of fairy lights.
His Pakenham house claimed the Gazette’s prize as the region’s Best Christmas Lights Display in last year’s Light Up Berwick competition,
But he wasn’t taking all the glory – pointing out that the whole neighbourhood contributed.
“It’s a group effort. The whole street gets involved. There’s great community spirit,” Chris said.
“Everyone in the street helps each other out with putting up the lights and with the pulling down process. That can be dangerous because you’re climbing up on the roof.
“It does cost money and it’s a lot of hard work.”
Chris told the Gazette that each year he begins arranging his lights from 1 November so that the house can be fully decorated and ready for display by 1 December.
He said Christmas Eve had been chaotic, with floods of people eager to get their picture taken in front of the “fairy land” Christmas lights.
Watch Chris Langdon’s Christmas lights.
Chris and his wife Jen, seven-year-old Page and four-month-old Madison have won a trip to the Gold Coast later this year for their efforts.
“2016 was a big year. I had my storm chase in the States and I’ve just started a new job,” Chris said.
“My daughter’s only been to Queensland once before and she’s been pretty excited. She’s told all her friends we won the Christmas lights competition.”
Chris encouraged residents to visit Vaughan Court and Stanton Court in December to be dazzled by the next Christmas lights display.
Meanwhile, Lyndhurst resident Kylee Stephenson won the Gazette’s Christmas hamper after purchasing the winning raffle ticket from The Vibrosaun Clinic in Berwick.
The hamper included a $250 voucher for new Berwick restaurant Sandro’s, a Vibrosaun voucher, a $50 Little Blackbird voucher and homeware products from PaintRight.
Kylee spent Christmas Eve and Boxing Day with either side of her family, enjoying lovely lunches complete with the traditional bon-bon Christmas crowns.
