Meadow Springs resident Mary Kartesz-Wardroper has taken home the title of 'best lights display' for her entry into the 2021 Synergy Xmas Lights Trail.
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The 2021 trail had over 300 registered decorators, with displays spanning from south of the river to north of the river.
Mary said her Christmas spirit was inspired by her childhood.
"Christmas meant so much to my family of eight children when we were growing up," she said.
"It now brings back the memories of not having much but sharing the love and joy of Christmas. This is what my family and I try to pass on to others in the community."
When Mary and her family moved to WA, she decided to pack a little cheer into her suitcase.
"I used to do it (decorate) in the States and when I came to Australia I brought three quarters of a container of decorations with me.
"Each year we add new decorations to make it even more spectacular.
"We receive donations of pre-loved Christmas items from the public which help to enhance our display."
This year Mary and her husband Alan set up 400 different Christmas trees, a fairy room, Santa's workshop, snow, a Christmas carousel and Santa's express train - their house is now known to the Meadow Springs community as 'the Christmas House'.
Mary and Alan's home received over 800 votes via Synergy's online platform, and has been visited by countless guests.
One interaction with a light admirer stood out to Mary as a highlight of the holiday season.
"A gentleman in his sixties broke down in tears because it touched his heart and brought back such happy memories of his childhood," she said.
Mary said she hoped to carry on this tradition for years to come, and to make her decorations "bigger and better" each year.
Samantha Ferguson
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
