For the past 12 years, Ross and Maureen Collins-Wright have turned their Wattle Downs home into a magical Santa’s Grotto to bring joy to local children and families.
“We started with one inflatable and two strings of lights, and we’ve built it up year-on-year,” Ross says.
The desire to decorate was sparked by helping a neighbour who created a winter wonderland for his niece who had leukaemia. When he left the area, he gifted Ross and Maureen some extra lights to get them started.
Watching the pleasure and awe in the eyes of visitors each year inspired the couple to keep going, with increasingly elaborate displays that transform their home into a glowing wonderland each night.
In 2019, they erected a gazebo and tarpaulin behind the gate as a grotto, but it blew away. So, the following year, Ross engaged a scaffolding company to create a grotto at his own expense.
With the grotto growing in scale each year, the costs went up. In recent years, Wiri Licensing Trust has stepped in to support the scaffolding and shrink-wrapping work that makes the grotto possible.
“We’ve had great input and support from the Wiri Licensing Trust, who have recognised the costs and effort of putting on such an event. It’s not a small undertaking for an individual,” says Ross.
He is also very grateful to have received help setting up the front lawn from people in the Wattle Downs community.
And all the work is worth it when he sees the excitement on the faces of his young visitors.
Two boys from the area who helped Ross put up the decorations this year reminisced about their favourite inflatables from their younger years. Another family told Ross they had been coming to the grotto for the past six years.
Wiri Licensing Trust General Manager Kim Green says the Trust is proud to play a part in the tradition.
“Ross and Maureen truly are local legends. What they create each Christmas is more than a display — it’s a gift that brings our community together. We’re delighted to support something that makes such a difference for local families.”
Ross says anyone is welcome to visit Santa’s Grotto in Blackwood Drive.
“Park down the road, walk along and enter the grotto. On Christmas Eve, Santa will stop by for a quick visit before he heads off to distribute presents to families around the world.”
If you have an idea that would make a difference in your neighbourhood but need a little help to make it happen, find out if you’re eligible for a Wiri Community Impact Fund grant.
