Lighting up for the final time

Published 3:30pm 9 December 2020

Barry Jennings has put up his huge Christmas lights display at Rothwell for the last time – hoping to see smiles on faces and extra funds for Redcliffe Hospital.

At the end of this month Barry will take everything down and sell it to raise money for the hospital’s palliative care department.

Barry is now 80 and finding it harder to put up the decorations and maintain the display for a month outside his home at 2 Wattle Rd, Rothwell.

Tree-mendous

It took four weeks to put up more than 600 metres of silver and coloured strand lights as well as other decorations, before December 1 when the lights went on.

That includes around 40 strands of lights trailing down from a star on top of a tree now approaching 6m high.

“I’ve had lots of compliments so far, everyone seems to be happy,” said Barry. “This is probably the biggest display yet.

“The weather is the main obstacle - the heat and the wind. I have been getting up early to do an hour’s work on the display before it gets too hot.

“There was a bit of sadness this time, but I have loved every minute, every year, doing this.”

Note of thanks

A notice at the front explains this is Barry’s 10^th and last Christmas lights display, thanking everyone for their support and that he is fundraising for Redcliffe Hospital.

Donations are rolling in already, a raffle is being held and finally Barry hopes to sell his decorations and put “every penny” towards the hospital fundraiser.

The lights officially went on December 1.