NORFOLK ISLAND CHRISTMAS TREE
The two Norfolk Island Pines standing in the Rectory Grounds, were planted in 1862 by the Warden of the church at that time. In fact, three pines were planted, however one of them came down in a storm in the 1940’s. The tallest tree, and the one that is lit each year, was measured last year by a local surveyor at approximately 46 metres high.
Since 1961 this enormous pine has been lit up for the Christmas season. It can be seen for many kilometres in every direction. In the first place it was lit by Shortland County Council, the local electricity supplier, and in the last couple of decades by the local council, Port Stephens’ Council. It takes a professional tree climber, and a number of helpers a whole day, to firstly lay out the cables of lights on the rectory grounds, and then, the tree climber having got as far up the 46 metres as is safe to draw the cables of lights up the tree. Right on the top is a large white light.
Last year the older style globes with new LED lights. In place of the hundreds of globes, the tree was then covered in thousands of the tiny globes, which continually change colour, making a wonderful sight.
These new globes are vastly more energy efficient than the old globes saving not just money, but also greenhouse gasses emitted in the production of the energy.
Since the late 1960’s community carols by candlelight had been held beneath the lit tree. However with changing times, less people were attending each year. So the parish decided to try a different approach. Last year we organised a great street party, and entertainment, then a countdown by a local councillor to the turn on of the lights. Even in spite of a stormy day, and drenching early evening, it was a huge success. At approximately 7.20 pm the sun came out under the stormy clouds, and with sun a couple of hundred people, creating a party for the lights coming on.
Photo credit- Andrew McKenzie, used with permission
