Mitcham Council under pressure to reverse Christmas carols ban

Mitcham Council is under pressure to reverse its decision to dump its $46,000 community Christmas carols — as it’s revealed the council has still budgeted $12,000 for its own staff Christmas party.

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Mitcham Council will revisit dumping its flagship Christmas carols event after overwhelming community backlash to the decision.

The Advertiser understands the council has been inundated with phone calls after it voted earlier this week to dump its popular Carols By The Creek concert.

Several readers have questioned the cost of Mitcham Council’s staff Christmas party and whether it would still go ahead this year.

In a statement to The Advertiser, a Mitcham spokeswoman said the council had budgeted $12,000 for its 2019 staff Christmas party but that the event was “currently under review.”

About 1700 people have also voted in our poll (below) asking if the carols, which the council has held for more than 20 years, should be reinstated. Nine out of 10 respondents said it should.

Hundreds more readers have posted comments on Advertiser.com.au and our Facebook page to express their shock and outrage at the decision.

Participants taking part in Carols by the Creek in 2014. Picture: Roger Wyman

Cr Adriana Christopoulos, who voted against the ban, has called a special council meeting for Tuesday where she hoped to have the decision reversed.

“The community’s response to this decision indicates just how passionate they are about this community event,” Cr Christopoulos said.

“I have requested a special council meeting for next Tuesday for councillors to reflect upon community comments and to rescind the part of the motion which stops council from hosting this year’s carols event.”

Cr Corin McCarthy, who voted to cancel the carols – that has an annual budget of $45,000 – said the council had “erred in not seeking enough information and community input”.

“The look on kids’ (faces) I know who go to Mitcham Primary and love singing in the carols said it all for me,” Cr McCarthy said. “I fully accept I was wrong on that.”

HAVE YOUR SAY ON THIS STORY: VOTE IN OUR POLL

But Cr Darren Kruse, who said during the debate to can the event he was happy to be portrayed as the Christmas Grinch, said he continued to support the cancellation.

“We are now a multicultural and a multi-faith society,” Cr Kruse said.

“I don’t think all ratepayers should entirely fund what is fundamentally a Christian event, when the churches don’t contribute at all.

“Freeing up this large amount of money will allow a number of more targeted, more inclusive events to be held across the entire city.”

However, Cr Kruse said there was “absolutely no intention” of cutting the council’s funding to the Blackwood Christmas Pageant.

MP for Waite, Sam Duluk.

Waite MP Sam Duluk, whose electoral office helps organise the Blackwood pageant, is looking to help organise a replacement Christmas Carols event.

“I’m happy to liaise with community groups such as Rotary and Lions Club to ensure a carols night is held in Mitcham this Christmas,” Mr Duluk said

“I’ve been contacted by the Sturt Baseball Club that would look to hold ‘Carols In The Diamond’ at their home on Old Belair Rd.”

Mr Duluk said he learned with “disbelief” that Mitcham had canned its carols.

“This is political correctness gone mad by councillors looking to shape society instead of keeping down rates and picking up rubbish,” he said.

The Advertiser is waiting on a further response from the council to the controversy.