Shepparton’s 50th Carols by Candlelight will be held at the Queen’s Gardens in December. This picture was taken at the event almost half its lifetime ago, in the year 2000.
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Almost 50 years ago on one holy night, Shepparton Brass Band put on the little town of Shepparton’s first Carols by Candlelight.
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It was anything but a silent night and all ye faithfuls came year after year for the annual event that brought joy to their worlds.
The event went from strength to strength throughout the decades and now organisers are gearing up to make its half-century show the biggest and the best yet.
“There’s been some really cracking years, so it will be hard to beat some of the ones we’ve had,” event director Emma-Jane Law said.
With Adam Thompson of Chocolate Starfish fame performing and a potential return of fireworks to mark this year’s milestone, it is set to go down in history — just like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer was predicted to.
Ms Law has been on the Carols by Candlelight committee for 11 years, performing at the event for 23 years and an MC a couple of times as well.
But this one might be the last one she’s a part of in Shepparton, with her family heading far north to live after Christmas.
“I love this community, so it’s been a joy to be a part of Carols for so long,” Ms Law said.
“It’s such a big event.”
Ms Law, who will again take to the stage as a performer, said the committee was looking forward to modernising the event, and that the audience would notice some changes at the festive celebration.
“We’re having a house band for the first time ever this year. It’s been on my radar for a long time,” she said.
“We’d like to start making a bit of a shift; we’ll have the concert band doing all of the community carols, which are the ones that people like to sing along to, and we’ll have the house band to predominantly accompany the artists during their performances.
“I think that will be a nice blend this year.”
The house band will made up of Greater Shepparton Secondary College students, under local musician Peter Formica’s guidance.
“I think it’s really important for our younger generation to start feeling like they can be a part of Carols now and they can take it the direction they want to take it,” Ms Law said.
“I feel like what we’ve done in the past has been amazing and beautiful. We’ve had our first 50 years and I think our next 50 years need to look different.
“I’m keen to take that first step and see where they (the committee) go with it next year.”
Ms Law said Sophie Fimmel would be this year’s anchor MC and that she hoped to welcome past MCs back to the stage for five-minute slots for the milestone event.
Chocolate Starfish frontman Adam Thompson will perform at this year’s 50th anniversary of Shepparton’s Carols by Candlelight.
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Megan Fisher
All this year’s performers are locked in, and along with international superstar Adam Thompson, Goulburn Valley stars Nicky Pummeroy and David Quinn, among many others, will return.
“To have the talent that we’ve got in this community blows my mind,” Ms Law said.
“I could probably have 10 of these and still have enough quality talent to run an event like this.”
An abundance of talent is one thing, minimal funding is another, however.
Ms Law said while the event had “amazing backing from council”, the budget didn’t extend far enough to afford the fireworks that will be permitted for the first time in years to mark the momentous occasion.
She said expenses had risen by 40 per cent over the past few years but the budget hadn’t shifted as much, so the committee was searching for sponsors to help light up the night sky and make the herald angels sing.
∎ If you have memories or photos from attending Shepparton’s Carols by Candlelight over the past 50 years that you would like to share, please send toeditor@mmg.com.au
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