Leos help light up the town

A $1000 cheque from the Waroona Leos Club handed over to Alcoa on Wednesday will help see the next phase of the Community Lights Project go ahead.

Made up of 18 members aged 12 to 19, the Leos raise money for community projects.

“When the Leo club formed four years ago, the president decided to get the club involved in this Community Lights Project,” Leos district chairman John Clare said.

“The first phase was lighting up the tree and bringing some Christmas spirit back to the town, and the next phase is the installation of giant LED angels at Centennial Park for Christmas.”

Last year, hundreds of passers by marvelled at the the giant, brightly decorated Christmas tree that sat outside the Waroona Visitor Centre.

“Years ago we had a tree in Centennial Park, but sadly the tornado took it away,” Alcoa executive assistant Trish Morris said.

“Waroona has traditionally always had a Christmas tree, so the community put their heads together and got some funding through grants and community involvement.”

The Christmas tree formed phase one of the project developed by the Waroona Community Lights Committee which consisted of Alcoa, the Waroona Shire Council and the Waroona Leos.

“Once these are installed, we will have a strip along South Western Highway from north to south lit up to form a Christmas lights trail,” Mr Clare said. “The Leos work extremely hard to fundraise money that can be donated.

“From manning the gates at the Waroona Demons Footy Club home games, to hosting quiz nights, wood raffles and barbecues in support of various events, this group of young kids do extremely well in helping out the community.”

Leos club president Zarli Butcher and club secretary Ella Deleo said they were thrilled to be part of such an important project.

“What we work on helps us give something back to the community, and I think that’s what makes it so worthwhile,” Ms Butcher said.