Bruce and Bev Supple have taken joy in setting up a Christmas lights display at their home for 42 years. They also love to stand out the front and say hi to people as they come driving or walking past to see their spectacular lights show.

Before they came to live in Grevillea Grove in Goonellabah seven years ago, they lived in Modanville for 35 years.

“In the early days, we did the milk carton trick, where we put candles into milk bottles to make a lights show,” Bruce said. “You don’t see that anymore.

“Then there came the lights that needed the bulbs pulling out if they blew – but now with the new LED bulbs, the low wattage makes it a great for power bills.

“In the past days, people would want to donate money toward the lights bills or to a cause, but noone is allowed to take donations any more.”

Waterfalls, reindeer and kangaroos

When you look at the roof of their Grevillea Grove home, you see there’s a waterfall of light that flows down the side of the house and across the path and over the front lawn, before becoming a lagoon on the grass. Then there’s two reindeer having a drink from the stream.

There’s a musical Christmas lamppost out the front, containing a Santa with falling snow around home, that Bev brings in every night to keep it dry.

They are not Catholics, but they have a Nativity scene with Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the lambs.

This year, because of Covid, Bev said the only difference is that they can’t have a real life Santa on the lawn handing out lollipops to children.

“Last year, we handed out 700 lollipops,” she laughed.

Labour of love

Bruce said he wasn’t even sure how many lights they have – but there are so many the couple start setting them up in early November, so that they are ready for the beginning of December.

Bruce used to set up all the roof lights himself, but he’s getting older now and a neighbour helps the couple out these days.

“It takes a day to lift the lights off the lawn and mow it,” Bruce said. “Then it takes five mows over the month to keep it all looking good.

“Last year we put the lights up in the heat,” Bruce said. “We had bushfires and the dust, and this year, we’ve had Covid and the rain.”

Last week’s extreme weather event last week stopped the couple from coming out and saying hi to people – but they love it when someone tells them their lights brought the magic of Christmas back into their lives.

Christmas day

This year, the couple said their Christmas day will the smallest they have ever had – with only six people at their home instead of the usual 20.

“The border closures are affecting family coming down to visit,” Bev said,

“We have children, four grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren now,” Bev said. “The lights have become the wow factor for the little ones.

See the lights

If you want to check out the couple’s lights, they will be switched on from 6pm to 11 pm until the end of Christmas day, so make sure you go and look before then.

The Lismore App has a listing of Christmas lights show in the area, so if you have lights at your place, please let us know by emailing simon@lismoreapp and send us a photo!

See the Lismore App’s Christmas lights location listings in our Christmas section: Christmas