Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh and Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan both arrived at Ulong Community Hall unannounced and in a festive mood; ready to sing and celebrate with the mountain community.

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They joined Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams who brought her three daughters to the bustling party.

“We knew that Nikki was attending but we had no idea that Gurmesh and Pat were also coming, and they were such great sports, readily jumping in as elves to crowd control when Santa arrived,” Eastern Dorrigo Community Hall Management Committee Chair Carol Cleary told News Of The Area.

As proprietor of Ulong General Store and Cafe in the Valley along with her husband Steve, Carol is a driver of positive change in the village.

“It was such a nice surprise when Nikki offered a small Mayoral donation to kick off the buying of the presents for the children.

“We have become so used to being told that the council had no money for any community events that it was such a stimulus for us to make an amazing night.

“In true local style we had a couple of generous locals who matched the Mayor’s offer and then it just snowballed,” she said.

Triple M Coffs Coast morning show host Moffee MC-ed the event.

Many of the local musos on the mountain joined in the entertainment and sang along with carols.

“And Santa came out of his workshop on a ride-on mower to invite the children to enter and select their own gift – it was fabulous,” said Carol.

By Andrea FERRARI