Murray Bridge Christmas lights competition winners announced for 2021

Widely-loved local light displays and families showing festive spirit have been recognised

Peri Strathearn

Dec 20, 2021 — 3 min read

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It’s official: these are Murray Bridge’s best Christmas light displays for 2021.

Seven households were recognised on Monday as the winners of the city’s annual Christmas lights competition were revealed.

Just like last year, an award went to Alec Thomson of Finch Road, whose LCD-powered display – synchronised with music broadcast on 92.1FM – has become a staple for local lights-watchers in recent years.

Another favourite local spot, Robinia Court, won an award for the best traditional display by Des and Mim Warner.

Des and Mim Warner’s long-running display on Robinia Court has been recognised as the best traditional one in the Murray Bridge district. Photo: Rural City of Murray Bridge.

Other awards went to:

Best large display: Maddie Incoll, Ian Douglas Court
Runner-up: Ben Hedger, Adelaide Road
Best small display: Jiron Blacket, Garden Crescent
Runner-up: Jacqueline Monaghan, Joy Crescent
Best traditional display runner-up: Mark Perry and Jasmine Tilly, Montgomery Avenue

No award was given out in the best business display category, as there were no entries.

Mr Hedger was the only award-winner present at a short ceremony at the Murray Bridge council office on Monday morning.

Cr Karen Eckermann presents Ben Hedger with a certificate and a Bunnings voucher at the 2021 Christmas lights competition awards. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Still, Mayor Brenton Lewis thanked everyone who took the time to enter the competition, or to decorate their homes for Christmas.

“It’s a lot of effort to put (Christmas lights) up and take them down again, and a couple of bucks’ worth of power on the way through, but the joy you must get out of it, I think, would reward you,” he said.

“At night the streets are busy with traffic just going around and looking at exhibits.

“You’ve really done something to lift pride in Murray Bridge, and as the mayor I want to thank you so much for doing that.”

Maddie Incoll’s display on Ian Douglas Court was named among the best in Murray Bridge. Photo: Madelline Incoll/Facebook.

The council’s corporate services general manager, Tim Vonderall, thanked the judges who chose this year’s winners: Councillors Karen Eckermann and Andrew Baltensperger, plus several council staff members.

He also took a moment to acknowledge the death over the weekend of Don Watts, a prominent citizen who had judged the competition in years past.

Mr Watts was a former manager of Murray Bridge Town Hall and, until only a few weeks ago, the chair of the city’s community advisory committee, a group which provides guidance to councillors.

See a map of Christmas light displays in Murray Bridge: www.google.com.
More information: Search for “Murray Bridge Christmas Lights” on Facebook.