Echuca Lions help Santa with kids’ Christmas letters

By Ryan Bellingham

Dec 6, 2024

Echuca Lions are helping out their old buddy Santa again this year with his hundreds of letters. Photo by Aidan Briggs

Local children say they have seen Santa on school grounds this week, coinciding with Mr Claus’ anticipated yearly trip to Echuca.

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Students at 208 Primary School, Twin Rivers Primary School, Echuca East Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School and Berrimba Kindergarten made the anecdotal reports, which could not be immediately verified.

Echuca Lions member Kevin Woolnough, who has worked with Mr Claus for the past eight years, confirmed Santa was in town and had re-enlisted the club’s help to collect letters.

The Lions have worked with Santa for more than 20 years. Photo by Aidan Briggs

“(The kids) write a letter to Santa, saying how good they are and what they’d like for Christmas, and we pick them up,” Mr Woolnough said.

The club has acted as a mail room service for Mr Claus for more than 20 years, facilitating about 600 letters to and from Santa each year.

“I’ve been in the Lions nearly 50 years and it’s probably one of the most rewarding projects as far as I’ve been involved with them,” Mr Woolnough said.

“Some of the letters are just beautiful.”

Mr Woolnough said the project helped to keep local kids connected to Santa, an important and playful tradition.

“I’m in my eighties now, but I think it’s something that kids should never lose. Christmas is a lovely time,” he said.

By Ryan Bellingham