Mitcham Council’s Christmas Carols By The Creek event saved after backflip

Mitcham Council, which voted last week to end its Christmas Carols service, has backed down after a community outcry and will fund the event again this year. Meanwhile, the under-threat Elder Park carols are also looking safer.

Mitcham Council debates the Carols by the Creek event on Tuesday night.

• Last week: Mitcham Council dumps hugely popular Carols event
• Councillor recovers from heart surgery to vote event back in
• Also tonight: Adelaide City Council wants to save Elder Park carols

Mitcham Council has listened to the community outcry and voted unanimously to reinstate its Christmas carols concert for 2019.

A packed chamber on Belair Rd saw ten councillors and Mayor Dr Heather Holmes-Ross debate a motion to overturn last week’s vote that saw the cancellation of its hugely popular Carols By The Creek at Hawthorn.

Councillor Andrew Tilley left his hospital bed after a triple heart bypass operation just ten days ago to attend the meeting.

He was permitted to sit while speaking.

“I felt it was the Mitcham Council that needed the heart transplant,” he said.

“The event couldn’t be more open with nothing divisive about it,” he said.

“The community needs more of this, the sense of goodwill and good neighbourly behaviour – love your neighbour, we need more of it.”

A noisy crowd of more than 150 witnessed the meeting and cheered loudly whenever anyone suggested keeping the Carols and shouted down those who suggested they had not been cancelled.

The public gallery during Mitcham Council's meeting.

Before the meeting, Mayor Holmes-Ross said it had been “a very busy week” and she paid tribute to the council staff who had dealt with the community backlash.

It comes as Adelaide City Council last night threw its support behind its much-loved Carols by Candlelight event at Elder Park, which risks being extinguished unless it secures a naming rights sponsor.

Cr Adriana Christopoulos who called the special meeting said the carols were “part of the fabric of the City of Mitcham” and that the event “did not discriminate”.

She urged elected members not to be swayed by “those councillors who think they know better” than the community” and asked them to resist “the push for political correctness.”

Councillor Lindy Taeuber,who voted for the motion to cancel the Carols, seconded the motion to reverse the decision and apologised to residents for her role in the process.

She said it was part of her role “to listen to the community”.

She said the Carols was an “uplifting” community event and the community wanted the Carols to be hosted by council so it is distanced from a strictly religious event.

Cr Jasmine Berry who also voted for the Carols last week said the week had cost the council nothing except “perhaps, its reputation”.

Cr Stephen Fisher said the original motion was “one of the most innocuous motions” he had seen and that the debate was “a storm in a teacup”.

He said the cost of the event at around $17 per head remained an issue.

Charlotte, Zac, Scarlett, Maddy, Louisa and Jolly the elf at a previous Carols by the Creek Picture: Dylan Coker

Summing up, Mayor Holmes-Ross said she recognised the week had been “incredibly distressing” to many residents.

She said she was proud of the council for responding to the community response so quickly and urged councillors to vote to reinstate the carols.

Former Mayor Glenn Spear told the meeting during his deputation to “not let the vocal majority take over in this council”.

He asked for permission to speak beyond his three minutes but was denied by a majority vote of councillors.

Mitcham resident Peter Carter apologised before his deputation for suggesting councillors drank before council meetings.

He said the council was out of step with the community and making “silly decisions”.

The council decision of last week had ended 25 years of the Carols By The Creek event, which regularly attracted more than 5000 people.

Councillors had argued the event should go because it is “too expensive” “too exclusive” and was only supporting the “dominant religion and culture.”

Thousands of readers on Advertiser.com.au and The Advertiser Facebook page slammed the decision.

A poll of more than 3000 voters saw more than 90 per cent of respondents calling on the council to reinstate the event.

The Carols By The Creek concert is not assured for any longer than this year, as the council has called for a report from staff on options for future years.

Some councillors maintain their view that the $45,000 budget should be spent on a range of community events that are “more inclusive” and that an Inter-church group could run a cheaper and reduced Carols night.