AFTER dazzling Griffith for nearly 20 years with his impressive Christmas decorations Ray Pagano is encouraging the next generation of Christmas light enthusiasts.
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While the undisputed Christmas light king no longer lights his Clifton Boulevard home, he hopes to see his love for Christmas lights taken up by more people.
“It would be good to see Griffith’s Christmas lights become more of an event like the Festival of Gardens and the Citrus Sculptures with bus tours and getting the community involved,” Mr Pagano said.
Over the years the spirit of giving has been in full force with Mr Pagano’s Christmas lights acting as a platform to raise thousands of dollars for many different organisations including Country Hope, Griffith Base Hospital and Griffith Post School Options.
“It was a great opportunity to raise money for a number of local charity’s or organisations, over the 17 years I had my lights up I think I raised $120,000 in total,” Mr Pagano said.
“Anyone putting up lights should think about putting out a charity tin as well, after all it is Christmas and it is a time to give.
“Unfortunately for me the task was getting to big for my age, I am too old to be going up and down ladders or lifting all the big and heavy decorations, it was hard work and took a fair bit of time but it was certainly worth it.”
Mr Pagano believes people may need an incentive to get involved with larger Christmas light displays and hopes to see incentives offered to encourage more lights.
“I would love to see more people put up more lights and maybe more people would be encouraged to do so if there was some sort of voucher as an reward,” he said.
“Years ago there were prizes such as $100 or $200 vouchers.
“And that was good for the people that used extra energy but they stopped that.”
Despite taking three months to set up his lights and decorations, Mr Pagano said all the time, hard work and effort was well worth the outcome.
“Doing the Christmas lights all these years has been an amazing experience, some of the most special times would be months after Christmas when children would recognise me up the street and ask if I was the Christmas man,” Mr Pagano said.
“I encourage anyone wanting to start doing their Christmas lights, it is well worth the hard work, even if you start small.
“There is nothing better than seeing people be amazed at the lights and kids faces light up.”
