Christmas is all about giving and the generosity of our guests was incredible in donating to the Rotary Club of Mandurah Districts Wishing Well during the 2022 Christmas Lights Cruise season. 

Over $27,000 was raised in just 5 weeks of Christmas Lights, taking the grand total of the wishing well to over $275,000 raised since it started back in 2008!

The exciting news was announced on 5th February at the Thank you & Awards Dinner for the Port Mandurah Canal Residents, put on by Mandurah Cruises. Residents were recognised with trophies, prizes and tongue-in-cheek awards on the night including the Judge’s Awards, the People’s Choice Awards and a special Hall of Fame award.

“To see this years total raised surpass previous years, yet again, is simply amazing.” said Mandurah Cruises Christmas Lights Coordinator – Natalie Goddard.

“Thank you to everyone who donated to the Rotary Wishing Well. We hope your wish comes true!”

“How wonderful is our community?! The driving reason behind the residents putting up their spectacular Christmas lights displays is not only to bring joy and love over the festive season, but to raise money for local charities and NFP groups to fund incredible projects in our community. This is Christmas spirit at its best!”

The monies from the Wishing Well have helped fund over 100 incredible NFP community projects in its 15 years – from riding for the disabled, food bank, womens refuge, dolphin, bird recue and so many more.

“At Mandurah Cruises we are proud to make a large monetary donation to the Wishing Well at the end of each festive season and raise funds through other initiatives, including online donation points, a Golf Auction Day where we donate an array of cruise experiences, Containers for Change where we collected all cans and bottles on board all cruises in December and January and donate the total refund amount to the Wishing Well.”

A special thank you to everyone involved in making the Wishing Well project possible, including Rob and Robyn of 27 Starfire Place for providing the site for the Wishing Well, the Rotarians who were involved in erecting and dismantling the signage and net structure, cleaning the net and collecting the coins each morning.

100% of funds will be distributed exclusively to local charities and NFP groups. Grants up to $2,000 are available to qualifying community organisations now, by applying HERE. They are looking for stand-alone projects for under-resourced groups in the Mandurah area, delivered by local non-for-profit organisations. They accept one proposal per group per year. The closing date for applications is 31st March. General queries can be sent to mandurahdistrictsrotary@gmail.com. 

Groups who have benefited from the Wishing Well monies raised in the past include: Cancer Council, Compassionate Friends Mandurah, Ed Connect Mandurah, Fairbridge Pinjarra, Fishability Mandurah, Foodbank Mandurah, Halo Team Mandurah, Horsepower Murray Mandurah, Mandurah BMX Club, Mandurah Croquet Club, Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group, Mandurah Environment & Heritage Group, Mandurah Volunteer Marine Rescue Group, Parkrun Dawesville, Passages Mandurah, Pat Thomas House Mandurah, Peel Aquajets Squad, Peel Aquatic Club, Peel Community Kitchen, Peel Connect, Peel Multicultural Association, Peel Preservation Group, Peel Thunderbirds Football Club, Riding for the Disabled Mandurah, Rocky Bay Mandurah, Safe Woman Safe Family WA, Save the Children Mandurah, Uniting Outreach Mandurah, WA Mums Cottage Mandurah, Zonta Mandurah.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS’ SINGER RAISING MONEY FOR LYME DISEASE

Every night over the 36 days of Christmas Lights Cruises we have incredibly talented local performers singing Christmas songs and contemporary sets on stage, at our departure jetty. They entertain the thousands of people who attend our Christmas Lights Cruises or visit Mandjar Square to see Santa and his elves and view the stunning Christmas Lights Trail.

Our performers are given the opportunity to raise money for charity if they wish to, by putting out a tin and signage on the stage and talking about the charity during sets. We would like to say a huge congratulations to Christie McGarrity who raised over $1,600 for Lyme Disease Association Australia.

Christie has been performing at our Christmas Lights Cruises for a number of years and may also be familiar if you’ve been on one of our cruises, as she’s a tour guide at Mandurah Cruises too. Christie goes above and beyond to spread the Christmas cheer, even performing on the canals on selected nights over the Christmas Lights season. You can also catch Christie performing on board our Sunset Cruises over summer/autumn and 2-Hour Family Christmas Lights Cruises.
Follow Christie on Facebook at @Christie McGarrity Performer.

MONTY THE CHRISTMAS DOG HELPING ALZHEIMER’S WA

Did you see Monty the Christmas dog at our jetty in Mandjar Square this Christmas lights season? Monty and his owner Camille raised $1,500 for Alzheimer’s WA. What an incredible effort!

The money donated will help fun research and help provide support for clients. So, thank you to everyone who made a donation and had a conversation, raising awareness about this debilitating disease.

Monty was definitely the star attraction, on many occasions stealing the show from Santa, elves and singers and receiving plenty of pats, cuddles and posing for photos.

Although Monty did like to nap on the job sometimes, he remains on Santa’s good list for all the great work he does in the community.

Aside from being Santa’s Christmas dog, Monty volunteers his time as a therapy dog, is the long-time mascot for the Red Dressed Choir (who performed at our departure jetty) and enjoys walks at the beach.