By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
CHRISTIAN ministers have lambasted Greater Dandenong’s $185,000 splash on Christmas decorations for not being sufficiently Christian.
Dandenong Ministers Fellowship spokesman David Owen, who last year decried the paucity of council Christmas decorations, said the extra $100,000 spending this year was misdirected.
The most extravagant decoration, a towering lit-up Santa aboard a reindeer in Dandenong’s Civic Square, had links to Coca-Cola but “nothing to do with the Christian Christmas”.
He said the nearby Nativity scene – which includes a narrative on the birth of Jesus Christ – contained inaccuracies and omissions.
“It didn’t mention the village of birth, they had the wise men at the crypt (scriptures state they visited Jesus as a two-year-old) and didn’t mention Mary was a virgin – which is crucial for Christians.
“I don’t know who authored it but we wouldn’t put it that way at all. We weren’t consulted at all.”
Mr Owen said outside of the Civic Square, there was a lack of Christmas feel on the streets.
The exceptions were street poles decorated by gift boxes and holly in Palm Plaza, and a Santa astride the former Bendigo Bank building in Lonsdale Street – but they were secular Christmas symbols, Mr Owen said.
“Driving around Greater Dandenong, I wouldn’t say an extra $100,000 has been spent to accommodate the Christian community.
“I’d say there’s generally less decorations than last year.”
He called for the fellowship to be consulted on future festive decorations and Carols by Candlelight events.
In reaction to the giant Santa and reindeer, fellowship member and Cornerstone minister Don Cameron said: “Sometimes artwork can hinder the real message rather than enhance it.
“Perhaps the most radical thing an artist could do is dump new and quirky ways to celebrate Christmas and go right to the heart of the original meaning of the word.
“Christ-Mas. Christ with us. God reaching down to man for our salvation. What a great theme!
“Why not celebrate Christmas using the true meaning of the word? We might be the only municipality in Australia to do so.”
Greater Dandenong Mayor Sean O’Reilly said the council strived to “strike a balance” by including Christian and “not classically Christian” elements.
“As one of the most multicultural councils, we should be recognising a Christian celebration and ensuring that everyone joins in.
“It’s a topic dear to people’s hearts and there’s always going to be diverse opinions on it.”
He said the focus on decorating Dandenong Civic Square rather than the streets was to drive more people to the council’s recently-opened attraction.
Other council-organised Christmas events include movies on the civic square ‘big screen’, street entertainment in Dandenong, Noble Park and Springvale, and a shop decoration competition.
