One of the most decorated streets in Thornlie will offer up more than lights this Christmas after adding a remote control car display to the yearly attraction.
Consulate Court resident Darren Duncan said while the street had been putting up Christmas lights for about 20 years, the car display was a more recent addition.
Featuring RC rock crawlers on a purpose built rock crawling garden followed by RC drift cars on a track set up on the driveway, the action will kick off from 7.30pm on December 19.
“It’s all put on to entertain families for free,” he said.
“We’ve been doing it for a couple of years now and it’s good because people come down and think they’re just going to do a quick lap of the street to show their kids the lights but they end up spending half an hour mesmerised by the drift cars.
“We also have the rock crawlers, which are a good beginning into the RC car world because they’re slow and they’re not going to shoot out and break someone’s foot or ankle or damage anything.”
Mr Duncan said nine houses in Consulate Court had lit up with festive decorations since December 1, including his own.
“I never thought I’d live in a house or even visit a place doing this sort of stuff and now I’m stuck right into it and we go all out every year,” he said.
“I remember when I first drove down the street when my mum bought the house and she said they did Christmas lights.
“I thought ‘ugh one of those places’ and it took 20 minutes to drive down this short little cul-de-sac because it was in its prime back then.
“We got out of the car and thought it wasn’t too bad and from there I pretty much got hooked.”
He continued adding to the decorations after buying the house from his mother about five years ago.
“The people who do it just genuinely enjoy it and they like seeing the kids and families come out and enjoy it,” he said.
“We collect for charities, which changes every couple of years.”
Money raised this year by Consulate Court residents will go to Lifeline WA’s suicide prevention work.
Resident Kathy Sharp, who has lived in the street for 14 years said most people knew someone who had suffered from depression, making the connection to Lifeline very personal.
