Community spirit, bargain deals and Christmas feasts: How Cairns celebrated Christmas this year
Bargain hunters delight as mega deals of up to 70% off selected begin in store from today while Christmas spirit shines on for those affected by the floods. See what deals are in store.
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Bargain hunters delight as mega deals of up to 70% off selected begin in store from today while Christmas spirit shines on for those affected by the floods.
This holiday season, Cairns flood-victims said Christmas was a “chance to forget the floods”.
Daniel Bateman’s Holloways Beach home was flooded with water up to his knees in the wake of Cyclone Jasper.
He said him and his flood-impacted neighbours wanted to make Christmas a time to “talk about something else other than the cyclone”.
“We had kind offers from lots and lots of people to attend their Christmas lunch and dinners” he said.
“We are sticking with our original plan spending Christmas with some very close friends.”
He said that the Christmas Spirit is still “very much alive” in the region.
“We had Santas visits Holloways Beach. Then we have SES working 24/7 through this which is one of the best presents you could have”.
While the festive season draws to a close, Harvey Norman Cairns proprietor of computers Brent Wall said they were expecting to make record sales this Boxing Day.
“We’re finding Black Friday and Boxing Day are bigger than they’ve ever been, Mr Wall said.
“It’s pretty much our biggest time of the year and with people watching their dollars it’s even more important,” he said.
Boxing Day sales and mega savings have kicked off in various stores and will continue into the new year with 30% off computers at Harvey Norman in time for back to school.
“We’ve got amazing deals all the way through,” Mr Wall said.
Cairns Central manager Christe-Lee Jackson said they expected “over 200,000 customers” over the next week.
The centre boast bargain deals with up to 70% off cookware in Myer, 50% off selected items and services at Peter Alexander, Laser Clinics Australia and Bed Bath N Table.
Mr Wall added there was plenty of stock available to eager shoppers.
“Come early, be patient, it’s always a crazy day so just be prepared to wait – we’ve got lots and lots of stock this year so if people are patient they’ll be OK.”
As some head to the shops, others will be sleeping off their food comas after Cairns residents turned out in droves to collect their Christmas spread staples, with lines out the door at seafood markets, butchers and supermarkets across town and throughout the weekend.
ISP Fish Market general manager Shawn McAtamney said Cairns had really proven their love of seafood this Christmas.
“My gut instinct is we’ve sold if not more volume this year, pretty close and on par with last year,” Mr McAtamney said.
“We’ve sold an extraordinary amount of cooked tiger prawns, they’ve been well priced this season, we’ve had an abundant catch – people certainly like what they see.”
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Originally published as Community spirit, bargain deals and Christmas feasts: How Cairns celebrated Christmas this year
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