When Moree Plains Shire Council challenged other shire councils to see who can be the "Merriest Christmas Council Champion 2022", three shires within the Western Plains App area answered their call.

This year Cobar, Coonamble and Walgett shires have embraced the concept and are contributing to worthy regional causes along the way.

Wednesday 7 December was designated 'Christmas T-Shirt Day' with staff at each Council getting into the festive spirit by donning their funniest, coolest, ugliest or cutest Christmas T-Shirt to work and devising unique ways to raise funds for their chosen charities.

Laura Hall, the Recruitment Marketing and Employer Branding Specialist for Moree Plains Shire Council, devised the competition concept and told the Western Plains App she was keen to see it spread further afield.

"I came up with the idea and started the new annual tradition last year. I come from England and so each year most companies in England do Christmas Jumper Day for Save the Children charity".

"As it’s a little bit warmer here, I thought why don’t we get everyone in Christmas T-shirts. Adding a bit of competition in the mix of it to really drive fundraising – I made it into a Council competition".

Christmas Jumper Day has been running for around ten years in the United Kingdom but jazzy jumpers were thought to be a little warm for Moree and other western NSW councils. PHOTO: facebook.com/ChristmasJumperDay/

The rules for the NSW competition include:

• All fundraising must take part that day, and that day only.
• All proceeds go to each Council’s chosen charity.
• The winner is decided by the calculating the total amount of funds raised divided by the number of employees to ensure fairness.

Cobar Shire Council

Cobar Shire Council decided to raise money for the community of Euabalong, a small township within the Cobar Shire that has recently been affected by flooding.

 "It was good timing for us, as the Euabalong community had recently flooded and this was a cause that locals could connect too", Summer Patterson, HR Manager of the Cobar Shire Council told the Western Plains App.

Peter Vlatko, General Manager of the Cobar Shire Council, agreed to be auctioned off internally and Council staff all donated money to have him work in the Parks & Gardens team for a whole day's work.

Peter Vlatko, General Manager of the Cobar Shire Council demonstrates his ride-on mower skills, which will be put to use when he works in Parks & Gardens for the day [Image E. Datson]

Summer Patterson thanked Peter "for being such a good sport during the whole process" and reassured those gathered on the day that Peter will be doing a full day with the Parks & Garden team, starting at 7am, at a date to be arranged.

Summer also thanked the Cobar Rotary Club for donating the BBQ.

"We raised $12,000 in one day, which is quite remarkable. Peak Gold Mine staff raised $2,100, then the mine donated $2,500 on top of that, Rotary donated $1,000, Mayor Abbott donated $2,300 and the remaining $4,000 came from the Council workforce and members of our generous community", Ms Patterson said.

Coonamble Shire Council

Competition first-timers Coonamble Shire Council decided to raise money for their local Meals on Wheels service.

Whilst staff shortage played derailed some of their planned activities for the Christmas T-Shirt Day, they were still able to walk the streets of the CBD to collect money, promoted it on their Facebook page, and community members also dropped into the Council office to donate money.

"Everyone one was so generous, we raised $723.75 for the local Meals on Wheels and when I phoned them, they were blown away with the amount we raised, as was I! The support given by our locals was amazing, not to mention the staff here were awesome getting behind the idea", Marina Colwell, Executive Support Officer for Coonamble Shire Council, told the Western Plains App.

Coonamble Shire Council collection bucket for Christmas T-Shirt Day [Supplied]

Walgett Shire Council

Walgett Shire Council raised $266 for the Warialda Community Promotion.

 Walgett Shire Council showing their Christmas spirit for the Christmas T-shirt Fundraising Day. PHOTO supplied.

All Council’s involved raised a total of $15,951.30 for charities, with Cobar Shire Council being crowned the Merriest Christmas Council Champion for 2022, raising a massive $12,000 in one day.

"Cobar Shire Council did absolutely amazing, I am truly gobsmacked", said competition organiser Laura Hall.

The Merriest Christmas Council Trophy that councils were competing for. PHOTO supplied