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L-R Cousins Cody Prowse, Maya Fabre, Ashley Turnbull and Max Mitchell enjoy their lollies from Santa during the annual SES Santa’s arrival in Ford Park, Yamba, on Saturday. Image: Lynne Mowbray.

SES Santa blows into town

Lynne Mowbray |

Santa Claus’s annual arrival by SES flood boat this year was blown a little off course, due to Saturday’s gale force winds.


The children were not disappointed however, as Santa had other plans.
There were screams of excitement when children spotted him arriving in the SES flood boat, which was being towed behind an SES vehicle through Ford Park, in Yamba.


Although being land bound this year, Santa still managed to catch up with children at Calypso Caravan Park, Blue Dolphin Resort, Iluka Riverside Tourist Park and Yamba Shores Tavern.


Yamba SES rescue officer Scott Blair said that he has been involved in the SES Santa arrival each year, for the last eight years.


“We mainly do this for the kids here in town, but we also go around to the caravan parks dropping off lollies for the kids,” Mr Blair said.
“We do this each year to spread a bit of Christmas cheer.
“This year we had to can the boats on the water, because it was just too gusty.
“Normally Santa arrives by boat and we pull up at the jetties but this year, we went over to Iluka by road – the weather was just too bad.
“We had around 20 members of the SES from Yamba, Maclean and we even had Coutts Crossing coming to help out this year.
“We (the SES units) are like one big family and we all train together and we just love getting together and doing this for the kids,” he said.
It was not only the children who enjoyed Santa’s arrival however.
Santa was also spotted sneaking into the Caroona Aged Care at Yamba, to pay a surprise visit to the elderly.