Gayndah bids farewell to spirited local

This Christmas will be Helen Walker's last local stint in her elf costume after locals gathered at Gayndah RSL hall this week to bid her farewell.

Gayndah locals gather at the RSL hall in November 2018 to farewell Helen Walker before she relocates to be with her family in New South Wales. Picture: Felicity Ripper

FOR GAYNDAH locals who don't know Helen Walker personally, they know her as the Christmas elf, or Easter bunny, who spends hours handing out treats spreading festive cheer down Capper Street come holiday season.

This Christmas will be Mrs Walker's last local stint in her elf costume after locals gathered at Gayndah RSL hall this week to bid her farewell before she moves away.

Mrs Walker has been making the town a happier place for 28 years, but has now decided it's time to return to Scone, New South Wales, to be with her family.

"My husband died 11 years ago and I only stayed here after he died because little Lena Kane asked me if I would stay until she died, because we were great friends, and I said alright then,” Mrs Walker said.

"But I wasn't expecting her to die at 100.

"Lena was like my family in Gayndah and she spent a lot Christmases with me at home, we'd have a roast dinner and sheds have her sherry and I'd have my beer.”

A beloved friend to Mrs Walker, Miss Kane passed away on April 30, 2018 at 100 years old.

"When she died my kids asked if I was going to come home now and I thought maybe I actually wouldn't, but I went down there for a few weeks and I saw all my great-grandkids and I said 'nup, I have to come back here' so I decided I'm leaving Gayndah at Christmas,” Mrs Walker said.

"I'm going to miss Gayndah, if I could wrap it up and take it with me I really would.”

Gayndah locals gather at the RSL hall in November 2018 to farewell Helen Walker before she relocates to be with her family in New South Wales. Picture: Felicity Ripper

She said her farewell held at the RSL hall at the weekend affirmed the sentiment that she was going to miss the people the most.

"They presented me with this beautiful big painting of Lena Kane, and it was the painting that won Sue Harm the Oils and Acrylics section of Gayndah Art Gallery's biennial art competition,” Mrs Walker said.

"I wasn't expecting anything at all and it was an absolutely beautiful thing to do.

"I've made a lot of friends since I've been here so a lot of them turned up for me last Saturday, they also all brought something to eat and the food was absolutely delicious.”

HOP IN FOR CHOCOLATE: Helen Walker dresses up back in 2011, with fellow Easter Bunny Jodi Harris, treating young Alana Evans to chocolate eggs. Picture: Rose Reed

From mid-December, Mrs Walker said she would dress up as an elf and spread Christmas cheer down the main street of Gayndah one last time.

"I think it makes Christmas better and it makes people happy,” she said.

"To see the smiles on people's faces, even on strangers who come to town, and they'll line up for a lolly or a balloon and they tell me how wonderful they think it is.”

Mrs Walker is set to leave for Scone in the early hours of December 29.

"I will try to come back, I would love to be back here for the Orange Festival but it might be a bit soon,” she said.