Our First Family Christmas Party a Resounding Success
On Sunday 30 November 2025, we opened our doors to over 200 guests for a lively three‑hour Christmas Party that blended music, food, fun and a generous raffle that raised funds for the hub’s ongoing programs and services.
The celebration ran from 3 pm to 6 pm, with families arriving with chairs and picnic rugs, ready to soak up the community spirit.
Live music was provided by local duo Fringe Benefit, and Danielle and Trish of Sing and Soul fame entertained the kids with Christmas songs and dancing. Santa made a special appearance, delighting the little ones and distributing books donated by Communities for Children (Mission Australia) and the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF). We also gave away six Lucky Door prizes of children’s book packs, also kindly donated by Communities for Children.
Food stalls added to the occasion: the Taree Lions Club arranged volunteers to operate a delicious sausage sizzle while a cake stall was run by Yuulangga.
🎁 Raffle Highlights
The raffle was the talk of the afternoon, thanks to a line‑up of high‑ticket prizes generously donated by local businesses and individuals:
Stand up Paddleboard donated by LJ Hooker Old Bar Beach
Two night stay in Spa Cottage at Kiwarrak Country Retreat, Old Bar, donated by Kiwarrak Country Retreat
Rabbitoh’s jersey signed by 2025 NRL Rabbitohs, donated by Lattrell Mitchell
Accommodation voucher at Finns at Old Bar, donated by Finns at Old Bar
Two night stay at Crowdy Bay Eco Resort, donated by Crowdy Bay Eco Resort
Tour and lunch NSW Parliament House, Sydney, with Tanya Thompson MP, donated by Tanya Thompson
Christmas Photo shoot with Danni Harrison Photography, donated by Danni Harrison Photography
$200 Wild Cosmo Voucher donated by Wild Cosmo Flowers
Online Parenting course with Maggie Dent, donated by Maggie Dent
$100 voucher for Coastal Aesthetics and Wellbeing, Taree, donated by Coastal Aesthetics and Wellbeing
Surf Lesson, donated by Saltwater Surf School
Voucher for Art workshop donated by Twig and Soul
NAK Hair care pack donated by Jessica Nye
Picnic basket, picnic rug and dip platter, donated by Circle of Friends Wingham
Essential Facial from Ambiance Day Spa in Taree
First Steps Count Merchandise Pack
The final draw saw several lucky winners walk away with awesome experiences and goodies that will keep the festive spirit alive well into the new year.
Thanks to all those who purchased tickets, we raised over $5,500.00 for our Centre!
🙏 A Massive Thank‑You
The success of the day would not have been possible without a village of helpers and supporters:
Fundraising Committee & Volunteers: Gemma, Leigh, Ery, Margaret, Karen, Lauren, Shannon, Toni, Scott, Victoria, Gwen, Prue and Kelly kept everything running smoothly.
Yuulangaa for the delightful cake stall.
The Resolution Network (Megan Lewis & Rosemary Lembke), Jack & Co Taree West and private donors for event sponsorship.
Jake Davey and his assistant, the unsung AV heroes who kept the sound crisp, captured beautiful photos and even sang a few impromptu tunes.
Taree Lions Club for braving the heat and serving up the sausage sizzle.
Communities for Children and ALNF for the generous book donations that turned into lucky‑draw prizes.
Santa for spreading cheer, and Tanya Thompson MP for joining the festivities and sharing the event on her social channels.
Every sponsor of the raffle prizes also receives a heartfelt shout‑out – your contributions turned a simple community gathering into a memorable celebration and a vital fundraiser for First Steps Count.
🌟 Looking Ahead
The Christmas Party reinforced First Steps Count’s role as a welcoming hub where families can connect, celebrate and access support. The funds raised will help ensure we can continue to provide community‑led programs throughout 2026.
Media Enquiries:
Clare Brennan, Centre Director
clare.brennan@firststepscount.org
