Community Event of the Year - Villawood Gawler Christmas Parade

The Villawood-backed Christmas Parade at Gawler has been awarded Community Event of the Year by the Town of Gawler.

The parade, the first in the town in 40 years, was revived with Villawood’s financial support at the behest of local MP Tony Piccolo.

It drew a crowd of 5000 with 40 parade entries including Santa Claus, singers, dancers, musicians, vintage cars, trucks and tractors, emergency vehicles, girl guides, Gawler Show Society, retailers, service groups, pipers, nativity scenes and clowns.

“We wanted the event to reflect the diversity of life in and around Gawler,” said Tony Piccolo. “The event demonstrated a strong sense of community.

Villawood was thrilled to be part of the event, and the Gawler Town recognition reinforces the value placed on growing the community – very much a part of what we do.

As our South Australia general manager Stuart Headland says: “What an excellent event, a Christmas parade in a town that hasn’t had one for 40 years.

“To revive that was a fantastic opportunity. The crowds were four or five, six deep, 10 deep in some areas. The smiles on the kids’ faces and the excitement was a fantastic outcome.”

The Community Event of the Year award was part of Gawler’s Australia Day awards.

Watch the acceptance speech from the Hon Tony Piccolo MP, State Member for Light and Stuart Headland, Villawood Properties General Manager – SA below