“We’re only about 25 per cent done” were the first words to greet our photography team at Shirley and Robert O’Brien’s temple of Christmas cheer.
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The dynamic duo have been lighting up Lyndoch Place for more than a decade and their festive displays are only getting bigger.
“We’ve picked up a whole bunch of new gear this year,” Shirley said.
The O’Briens are by no means an outlier – hundreds of Wagga homes are similarly lit over the Christmas months.
Few, however, can say they do it better than Robert and Shirley.
“We’ve had a fair few impulse purchases this year,” Shirley admitted.
“We’ve got two sheds full of decorations and lights plus there all the new train sets to put up.”
More than 14 inflatables will join the fray on Robert’s front lawn with each night to bring a new and exciting theme to Bourkelands.
“We’ll have our santa next to the ute one night with some decorations and then we’ll swap it around so the Volkswagen is out the front with some different gear,” Robert said.
“It’s good to rotate things and keep the display fresh.”
A brand new nativity scene will feature later this week but Shirley says the secret is buying second-hand.
“You can pick things up rally cheaply or just do them yourself,” she said, brandishing a homemade decorative sign.
“It’s worth your while.”