Mandurah Christmas lovers dug deep during the holiday season, raising more than $11,000 for the K9 Rescue Group through their donations at Meadow Springs’ favourite festive home.
The home opposite the shopping centre, on Meadow Springs Drive, is a must-see on Christmas house circuit in Mandurah.
Each year owner Mary Kartesz-Wardroper decorates the home, inside and out, with a the range of festive displays and urges visitors to leave a donation to K9.
Read more:
Ms Kartesz-Wardroper and her husband Alan devote six months of every year to creating the magic of Christmas for Mandurah families.
The duo said they picked the charity because “everybody likes dogs”.
“We decided on K9 because they [dogs] need families too,” Ms Kartesz-Wardroper said.
“People are so kind-hearted, and at Christmas time they give anyway.
“Even a coin donation adds up.”
The past Christmas, the initiative raised more than $7000 for the charity.
The couple attribute the massive jump in donations to their media exposure this Christmas.
“We’ve been on TV five times and on the radio,” Ms Kartesz-Wardroper said.
K9 publicist and volunteer Janine Matthews said the $11,121 would go towards food for dogs and vet bills.
Ms Kartesz-Wardroper thanked Coles supermarket for providing a $150 voucher to buy cookies and Target for supplying candy canes and lollies.
She also thanked local Dylan Anderson who helped managed crowds throughout the house’s opening.
She made special mention of her neighbours, who she said had supported their “crazy Christmas” for years.
“We get Christmas stuff donated to us as well. So we’d like to thanks all the people who brought things to us,” she said.
The couple were also lucky enough to win a grant to help pay for their electricity bill, through Synergy’s Christmas competition.
Ms Kartesz-Wardroper said it was needed as their bill tripled during the festive season.
“We won the $2000 people’s choice award,” she said.
