The Powderly residents in Echuca is collecting letters for Santa at 8 Lachlan Crescent, to be sent directly to the North Pole. Children including a return address can expect a personal response from Santa's team within a few weeks. Pictured are Amanda, Noah, Eli and Phil Powderly.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Santa's helper Phil 'Powds' Powderly has begun collecting letters destined for the North Pole at his Echuca home, with families invited to drop their Christmas wishes into a special mailbox at 8 Lachlan Crescent.
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“People can put their letters to Santa in the letterbox, and the letter will then be directly expressed off to the North Pole,” Powds said.
Children who include a return address with their letters can expect a personal response from Santa's team.
“If you have left a return address, Santa's team will send a response letter out to whoever posted the letter,” Powds said.
“Because Santa is busy at this time of year, you will generally receive a response within a few weeks of posting your letter.
“The sooner you can get your letters in, the better, as Santa is a very busy person at this time of year.”
The festive tradition started when the Powderly family lived in Melbourne, where they began decorating their home with Christmas lights.
“A couple of years ago, we were living down in Melbourne, and we started doing lights,” Powds said.
“And then, since we moved up here, it sort of took off, a little bit bigger and better each year.”
The Christmas display has become a family affair, with all members contributing to the growing spectacle each year.
Families can also take photos in Santa's sleigh, which is displayed at the front of the property.
The festive display at the Powderly home is a family effort, with interactive elements like Santa's sleigh for photos. L-R, Amanda, Noah, Eli and Phil Powderly.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
“We will have a few interactive things where kids can come and stand behind and pop their faces through for a photo,” Powds said.
Powds encourages children to make their letters personal and meaningful.
“Give Santa a few ideas of what you have been wanting, why you think you have been good, or if you have been bad, why you have been bad and how you can be good,” he said.
“It is a special time of the year, and we want to give back and take a moment to forget about things going on in life for a minute.
“To take a moment as a community, to come together and it is an opportunity for us, as a family, to give back to the community.
You can find Santa’s mailbox at 8 Lachlan Crescent, Echuca with the special postal service operating to the North Pole until just before Christmas.
Powds encourages children to make their letters personal and meaningful by sharing their wishes and reflecting on their behaviour.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
