The annual Christmas Decoration Competition is the highlight of the year for Wide Bay HHS. Many of our staff spend months planning a theme, crafting decorations, and hoarding leftover materials to recycle for a sustainable display.
The overall theme for 2023 was Santa’s Ho Ho Hoedown – A Very Country Christmas!
Our teams leaned into the theme and we were treated to line-dancing lessons, Santa driving a cane train, swooping magpies, an egg carton Christmas tree and lots of fabulous farm animals.
As always, our executive team commits time to visiting all our displays and takes on the very difficult task of judging all our displays.
Some highlights of the displays:
Bundaberg Med Ward 3 – the entire team came in on weekends and after hours to bring their ward to life. Several patients assisted with making the decorations and commented on how lovely it was to be involved in something so magical.
Renal Unit – each of the patients and staff have their photo displayed on the entrance wall, and they chose which character they wanted to be. They had a full script, taking the judges around their outback town, and the patients joined the fun as Bad Santa and shearers.
Bundaberg Community Mental Health – EVERYTHING was recycled or repurposed. The ‘wooden’ palings on the walls are actually over 250 brown paper shopping bags!
Bundaberg Paediatrics – parents and children have been walking the corridor singing The Twelve Days of Christmas, and complimenting the staff on their creativity – the native flora is all handmade.
Payroll – what a performance! Each staff member was in character, and even got the judges to participate in a musical hoe-down!
Childers – the team had designed a path to follow where the colours of the decoration changed and had different themes. Lots of handicrafts and homemade elements.
Biggenden – a calf, horse, multiple sausage dogs all dressed the part. Residents all sat at their door in costumes and there was a child cracking a whip for entertainment.
Eidsvold – there was a horse, calf, cattle dog, two chickens and Santa. Santa had his naughty and nice list and checked in with each exec to let them know where they had fallen on the list this year. They had a dedicated space decorated like “Nanna’s house” which was very authentic.
Monto – the highlight was a calf in a tutu and two chickens! Santa had also left his very festive Land Cruiser and swag out the front.
Maryborough Community Mental Health – the Aussie Twelve Days of Christmas was a delight, and everyone loved the chance to bottle-feed a hungry lamb.
Maryborough Ward 3 – everyone got a laugh out of Santa’s undies hanging on the clothesline!
Maryborough Workforce Assurance – the judges enjoyed an impromptu line dancing lesson.
Hervey Bay Media and Communications – the team embraced the theme of a Holly Dolly Christmas with country music, a very blonde Dolly Parton lookalike and homemade Appalachia Apple Cider.
Hervey Bay Community Mental Health – the work that went into this display was outstanding.
Hervey Bay Cancer Care – this team truly connected with the “Very Country Christmas” theme.
Finalists and winners
Rurals
- Best facility - Eidsvold
- Best theme - Childers
Overall nominations
- Best tree – Gin Gin
- Best theme – Childers
Bundaberg
- Best small runner up - Paediatric Unit
- Best small winner - Payroll
- Best large runner up - Renal Unit
- Best large winner - Acute Medical Unit 3
Overall nominations
- Best tree - PARAS
- Best theme - Acute Medical Unit 2
Hervey Bay Hospital
- Best small runner up – Community Mental Health Reception
- Best small winner – Perioperative Unit
- Best large runner up – SOPD
- Best large winner – Cancer Care
Overall nominations
- Best tree – Surgical Unit
- Best theme – Cancer Care
Maryborough
- Best small runner up – Pharmacy
- Best small winner – Workforce Assurance
- Best Large runner up – Ward 3
- Best large winner – Community Mental Health
Overall nominations
- Best tree – Community Mental Health
- Best theme – Community Mental Health
Overall winners
- Best tree - PARAS, Bundaberg
- Best theme - Cancer Care, Hervey Bay
- Best overall - Community Mental Health, Maryborough
Visit our Facebook page to see some wonderful photos of the entrants https://www.facebook.com/widebayhealth