Tongala’s Mangan St Christmas display is a tribute to the 1985 book and 2004 film The Polar Express, complete with the conductor, who was played by an animated version of Tom Hanks in the movie.
Trains haven’t stopped in Tongala for some time, but come December 14 there will be a new ‘train station’ at the eastern end of Mangan St.
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A partnership between the Tongala Lions Club, Tongala Pharmacy and the Op Shop will see this year’s Town Square theme based around the 2004 animated Christmas adventure film The Polar Express.
And, as usual, the 51-year-old Lions club has left no stone unturned in presenting a high-end visual representation of the children’s book that came out 20 years before the film.
Hollywood legend Tom Hanks was the star of the film, which is set on Christmas Eve and is based around the scepticism of a young boy.
After accepting the invitation of the conductor (Hanks) at a train stop that has magically appeared outside his bedroom window, he embarks on a journey that has the North Pole as its final destination.
While children involved in the two-and-a-half-hour Saturday Christmas activity, which will start at 10am, will not be leaving the Town Square site, there will be a ‘train’ — of sorts.
Tongala’s Town Square has a sign post pointing to the Polar Express display.
“We have secured some giant cardboard boxes, fridge boxes, which the children will be turning into a train on the day,” renowned artist and long-time Lions member Murray Ross said.
In keeping with the movie, the conductor has a speaking role at the site and stands in front of a large mural representation of a scene from the animated picture.
In the past two years, Barbie and Frozen have been the backdrops for the Town Square celebration.
Mr Ross said there would be art workshops operating at two different locations on the site, with some of the children painting Tongala’s own version of the Polar Express, while others would be making snowmen and cookies stamped with Christmas decorations.
“We have the studio station and the shed station, our two sheds on the site, which will be used for the event,” he said.
The event will also feature a reading from the train-themed Christmas story by Alex Andrew.
Already there has been a steady flow of families posing in front of The Polar Express display, which is in keeping with the spectacular murals that adorn many walls of the Mangan St buildings.
Mr Ross said at the end of the Saturday activity a free sausage sizzle would be provided, at about 12.30pm.
But, just like any train trip, children must get a ‘ticket to ride’ — on this occasion from Tongala Pharmacy.
While the 2024 version may not be the real thing, this Mangan St tribute to the 1914 Tongala Railway Station is proof that trains did once roll through the town.
“We have a limit of 50 children and we already have about 35, so people should get in quick,” Mr Ross said.
The event is open to all primary school-aged children and will precede the Tongala Christmas Carols by Candlelight event, which will be at the opposite end of the street later in the day.
Mr Ross said the Lions club had settled on the Polar Express theme after looking for something different from previous years.
“The interactive conductor adds a bit of fun to the display, but we are quite aware of neighbouring houses, so the volume will be turned down until the event,” he said.
The Lions club, which has about 25 members on its books, will also be playing a role at the carols event — firing up the barbecue on the evening.
“We are all getting older, but the energy levels are very high and everyone is proud that we’ve managed to survive so long,” he said.
The group has recently put up the tree in front of the library and enlisted the support of the Op Shop to provide small gifts for the children on the day of The Polar Express art activity.
Call in to Tongala Pharmacy to purchase your ticket.
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