Those driving in the city’s northern area will be treated to a show stopping Christmas Lights Display when they drive past the Barraclough’s house at 549 Fisher Street.
Tom Barraclough, 26, has been erecting his Christmas lights display with his father, Geoff, since he was 5 years old, and started doing the job himself five years ago.
For the previous two years, he has been raising money through his display for the Flinders Cancer Research Centre.
This year, he has decided to raise money for local organisation, Staying Home Leaving Violence.
In an interview with the Truth, he said he erects the lights display “for the families, to bring a bit of joy around Christmas time.”
Commencing the arduous task of erecting his display in November, he noted that it takes up “pretty much any free time I have,” and generally takes more than a month to complete the display.
Nevertheless, he says the display and the fundraising efforts are worth it because this year’s organisation “is a local community charity that helps community members, the money stays local, and it helps people out in our own backyard.”
While not setting a specific fundraising goal for this year, he acknowledged that “the idea behind the fundraising is to get Broken Hill back to a charitable town. Help our own out, help out those who are in need, and I just feel that Christmas is the best time of year for that.”
Evie, a Pokémon character who makes regular appearances at the local markets for Mr Barraclough’s stall, Aus-Kustum Gaming, will instead spend tomorrow evening at the Barracloughs, helping the family to hand out lollipops and Zooper Doopers to visitors as part of the fundraiser.
The fundraiser, and the Christmas light display, will continue until New Years Eve, giving locals plenty of time to check out the display and to donate to a worthy and important local cause.
PICTURE: Tom Barraclough’s Christmas light display will be fundraising for local organisation Staying Home Leaving Violence. SUPPLIED
