IF THERE was only one item on the McLean family’s Christmas wish list this year, it’d be a good downpour.
“[We’re] hoping for a wet Christmas. Really, really hoping. I think it would answer everyone’s Christmas wishes if we could have some rain,” said Libby McLean, of Wellesley, Surat.
But while they wait for the man in red to have a few words with Huey, the family of six have been spreading some Christmas cheer.
Their mailbox is among those participating in the Surat Tinsel Trail – a 195 km stretch of the Carnarvon Highway between Roma and St George lined with festive signs and decorations. The trail was started by a group of families, including Lachie’s mother Liz McLean, about a decade ago. Lachie and Libby have been involved for the past eight years.
“Every day that I do drive back and forth it’s really uplifting and makes you feel happy,” Libby said.
“I love seeing new and different ones that people come up with.”
The group also spreads the trail on social media to foster state-wide involvement.
Libby said the annual tinsel trail can involve some friendly competition.
“It used to get a bit competitive, trying to think of something funny,” she said.
“Lachie and I used to always try and do something comical, but that’s probably more the men getting a bit competitive.
“There’s always some sly joke about which type of tractor they drive; always a bit of an underlying personal joke going on.”
