Christmas is all about giving and the generosity of our guests was incredible in donating to the Rotary Club of Mandurah Districts Wishing Well during the 2021 Christmas Lights Cruise season. 

A total of $23,384 was raised in just 5 weeks of Christmas Lights, taking the grand total of the wishing well to over $250,000 raised since it started back in 2008!

The exciting news was announced on 6th February at the Thank you & Awards Dinner for the Port Mandurah Canal Residents, put on by Mandurah Cruises. Residents were recognised with trophies, prizes and tongue-in-cheek awards on the night including the Judge’s Awards, the People’s Choice Awards and a special Hall of Fame award.

“The goal this season was to surpass the $250,000 milestone and we are so delighted it was achieved!” said Mandurah Cruises Christmas Lights Coordinator – Natalie Goddard.

“Thank you to everyone who donated to the Rotary Wishing Well. We hope your wish comes true!”

“How wonderful is our community?! The driving reason behind the residents putting up their spectacular Christmas lights displays is not only to bring joy and love over the festive season, but to raise money for local charities and NFP groups to fund incredible projects in our community. This is Christmas spirit at its best!”

The monies from the Wishing Well have helped fund over 100 incredible NFP community projects in its 14 years – from riding for the disabled, food bank, womens refuge, dolphin, bird recue and so many more.

“At Mandurah Cruises we are proud to make a large monetary donation to the Wishing Well at the end of each festive season and raise funds through other initiatives, including a Golf Auction Day where we donate an array of cruise experiences, Containers for Change where we collected all cans and bottles on board all cruises in December and January and donate the total refund amount to the Wishing Well.”

“This year we provided more ways for people to donate, including the option to donate at the time of booking and tap and go pay donation point on board.”

A special thank you to everyone involved in making the Wishing Well project possible, including Rob and Robyn of 27 Starfire Place for providing the site for the Wishing Well, the Rotarians who were involved in erecting and dismantling the signage and net structure, cleaning the net and collecting the coins each morning.

100% of funds will be distributed exclusively to local charities and NFP groups. Grants up to $2,000 are available to qualifying community organisations now, by applying HERE. They are looking for stand-alone projects for under-resourced groups in the Mandurah area, delivered by local non-for-profit organisations. They accept one proposal per group per year. The closing date for applications is 31st March. General queries can be sent to mandurahdistrictsrotary@gmail.com. 

Groups who have benefited from the Wishing Well monies raised in the past include: Cancer Council, Compassionate Friends Mandurah, Ed Connect Mandurah, Fairbridge Pinjarra, Fishability Mandurah, Foodbank Mandurah, Halo Team Mandurah, Horsepower Murray Mandurah, Mandurah BMX Club, Mandurah Croquet Club, Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group, Mandurah Environment & Heritage Group, Mandurah Volunteer Marine Rescue Group, Parkrun Dawesville, Passages Mandurah, Pat Thomas House Mandurah, Peel Aquajets Squad, Peel Aquatic Club, Peel Community Kitchen, Peel Connect, Peel Multicultural Association, Peel Preservation Group, Peel Thunderbirds Football Club, Riding for the Disabled Mandurah, Rocky Bay Mandurah, Safe Woman Safe Family WA, Save the Children Mandurah, Uniting Outreach Mandurah, WA Mums Cottage Mandurah, Zonta Mandurah.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS’ SINGER RAISES RECORD-BREAKING AMOUNT!

Every night over the 35 days of Christmas Lights Cruises we have incredibly talented local performers singing Christmas songs and contemporary sets on stage, at our departure jetty. They entertain the thousands of people who attend our Christmas Lights Cruises or visit Mandjar Square to see Santa and his elves and view the stunning Chistmas Lights Trail.

Our performers are given the opportunity to raise money for charity if they wish to, by putting out a tin and signage on the stage and talking about the charity during sets. We would like to say a huge congratulations to Christie McGarrity who raised an amazing amount for her chosen charity.

Christie McGarrity has been performing at our Christmas Lights Cruises for a number of years with the Red Dress Choir and as a solo artist. She is pursuing a career in the performing arts and currently studying at WAAPA. Over the Christmas Lights season Christie raised an amazing total of $1,800 for Lyme Disease Association Australia.
Follow Christie on Facebook at @Christie McGarrity Performer.

MONTY THE CHRISTMAS DOG HELPING ALZHEIMER’S WA

Did you see Monty the Christmas dog at our jetty in Mandjar Square this Christmas lights season? Monty and his owner Camille raised $1,000 for Alzheimer’s WA. He was definitely the star attraction, on many occasions stealing the show from Santa, elves and singers and receiving plenty of pats, cuddles and posing for photos.