Christmas spirit set to restore town icon

HE HAS been serving Gayndah for around 40 years as an icon for the North Burnett's citrus industry, now Gay Dan needs help from his community.

LITTLE HELPERS: Gayndah kindergarten's Evie and Parker Holden, and Oliver Rackemann, are on a mission to raise money for Gay Dan's restoration. Picture: Felicity Ripper

HE HAS been serving Gayndah for around 40 years as an icon for the North Burnett's citrus industry and a "welcome home” for locals as they drive into town, now our famous orange sculpture, Gay Dan, needs help from his community.

Although tanned to perfection, Gay Dan is eroding and fading away under the wrath of the Queensland sun and the local Kindergarten wants to restore his dignity.

C&K Gayndah Community Kindergarten have set out to raise $2000 towards the sculpture's restoration, through a Santa photo fundraiser.

"A lot of people in town might not know that the Gayndah Kindy are the guardians of Gay Dan,” kindergarten director Laura Ballantyne-Wren said.

"He was gifted to us by the Robinsons who made him, I think in the eighties, and since then he has always been a big part of the Orange Festival.

"As his guardians we feel a responsibility to Gay Dan to make sure he is looked after because he is a much loved and iconic figure of our town, and of our town's culture and history.”

The Santa photo day will be held on December 1 at the Gayndah RSL Hall with different packages available.

Raquel H Photography, Laura's School of Dance, and Santa have both donated their time for the cause.

"That's a great thing too because it brings a bit of Christmas cheer and really promotes the spirit of giving and community as well doing something fun for our children,” Mrs Ballantyne-Wren said.

C&K Gayndah Community Kindergarten will hold a Santa photo fundraiser to raise money for Gay Dan's restoration. Picture: Felicity Ripper

Mrs Ballantyne-Wren said this was not only an opportunity to give back to their supportive community, but to teach a lesson to the children of the kindergarten.

"This is an opportunity to teach our children that, as a community, if we all work together then everybody is supported, and it teaches our children our core values and what it means to be apart of something bigger,' she said.

"One of our core values at the kindy is our community relationship, being involved in our community and having the community involved in our kindergarten.

"We've had a lot of support from our community, the council, the Gayndah Lions, and Mundubbera's Bendigo Bank branch to build our deck.”

"He's been around for a very long time and traditionally he has always been at the front of our float for the Orange festival, and we're hoping he will be restored in time to make a special appearance again next year.

Once the fundraising target is met Gay Dan will have a big journey ahead of him, sent to an industrial sculptor based in Brisbane.

"It's important to us that we get him restored professionally for his longevity, so we're doing all we can to ensure his survival well into the future for our town.

"His hands have eroded so they need to be fixed, he needs to be completely repainted and he also has some structural issues.”

If you would like to get involved or inquire about photo packages contact C&K Gayndah Community Kindergarten on 41611244.

Originally published as Christmas spirit set to restore town icon