By Casey Neill
An ever-growing nativity scene has been drawing crowds to Dandenong North for 13 years.
Creator Wilson Fernandez is spurred on by sharing the true meaning of Christmas and spends hours maintaining and expanding the scenes.
He uses soils, clay, straw, plants and barks to give the nativity scene the most traditional and authentic impression of being in Christ-era Bethlehem.
The scenes feature handmade huts, stables, buildings, bridges, palaces, houses and temples surrounded by mountains, rocks, lakes and rivers.
They cover Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem and settling in a stable, the birth of Jesus Christ, an angel announcing the news, shepherds and wise men visiting, and more.
The nativity scene will be on display at St Elizabeth’s Parish Church, 107 Bakers Road, Dandenong North, from Monday 12 December to Friday 13 January.
It will be open from 9.45am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 7.30pm to 8pm Saturdays, and 9.30am to 10am, 11.30am to noon and 6.30pm to 7pm on Sundays.
Other times are available by appointment. Call 9795 6217 or 0428 927 110.
