Council's Carols call is off key
Carols by Candlelight
Douglas Shire Carols by Candlelight are done for… the Douglas Theatre Arts Group announcing that it will no longer produce the event, marking the end of a nine-year tradition that has brought festive joy and musical celebration to the community.
DTAG President Michael Kerr labelled the news “incredibly disappointing” and “disrespectful”.
A new Christmas Extravaganza at the Mossman Showgrounds to be staged by Douglas Shire Council and complete with light show and a helicopter transported Santa has killed off Carols by Candlelight, the DTAG leaders say.
Originally invited by Douglas Shire Council in 2016 to produce the Carols in Mossman, DTAG has proudly delivered the event in partnership with Hit FM, Creative Souls Studio, Voices of the North Choir and many local businesses.
The Carols even continued during the challenges of COVID, professionally filmed and made freely available for all to enjoy.
With council funding, DTAG was able to deliver a full-scale Christmas Extravaganza, complete with fireworks, market stalls, amusement rides, and performances by stars from The Voice and X Factor.
In 2024, Council staff approached DTAG to return the Carols to Mossman with full funding. After multiple meetings and a delivered Memorandum of Understanding, DTAG was Informed that Council had chosen a different direction and instead delivered the Carols under the raintrees.
Businesses who have long supported DTAG’s Carols have been approached to sponsor the newly proposed event, DTAG President Michael Kerr saying the organisation was not consulted to produce the event but invited to participate in a limited capacity by the current organiser.
“It’s incredibly disappointing,” Mr Kerr said.
“We’ve poured heart, time, and resources into this event for nearly a decade. Carols by Candlelight isn’t just a performance, it’s costly, licensed music (you can’t just use downloads), copyright sheet music designed for choirs, weeks of rehearsals, and all that before the staging, lighting, insurance, and community coordination.
“We’ve run the event at a financial loss year-after-year because we believe in the magic of Christmas and the power of community arts.
“We simply cannot compete with a publicly funded event by Council that now seeks the same sponsors we’ve relied on to produce this show. It’s not sustainable, and quite frankly it’s deeply disrespectful of the legacy we’ve built.”
The former Mayor of Douglas Shire, added that it was “hard not to feel this is yet another quiet dismissal by these Councillors’’.
“The lack of transparency, consultation, and the decision to sideline a proven, experienced community partner speaks volumes,’’ he said.
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