A sea of Christmas hats, waving candles and sleeping babies will be beamed across Australia as Carols by Candlelight welcomes back a live audience.
Having to go ahead without a crowd last year due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the fundraising Christmas carol event this year is back to its former glory.
Speaking to Vision Australia Radio’s Talking Vision, Vision Australia CEO Ron Hooton said ticketholders will need to show proof of their vaccination status to be audience members to be compliant with Victorian state COVID rules.
“It's going to be a vaccination only event,” he told Talking Vision host Sam Colley.
“Now, I know that for some, that might be controversial, but we do have to make sure that everybody's safe.”
The crowd capacity is set at 10,000 people who will be socially distanced across the lawn at the iconic Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Photo: The audience at a previous Carols by Candelight.
David Campbell and Allison Langdon will be hosting the event at 8pm on 24 December.
Of course, Carols favourites, the fab four, Marina Prior, David Hobson, Denis Walter OAM, and Silvie Paladino will be singing, alongside some of Australia’s best-known artists like Anthony Callea and Casey Donovan.
Ron says he is particularly excited to hear a new carol sung by a familiar face.
“Donna Dyson, who is a former songwriter of the year and a client of Vision Australia as a person with low vision, has written this carol for us, and I think that this is going to be a tradition for carols for years and years to come,” he said.
Listen to the full interview in the player below:
Of course, the event has a special purpose. Each year, Carols by Candlelight raises much needed funds to help children who are blind or have low vision.
“So a family, who has a child who is blind or has low vision, has a lot of coping to do,” Ron said.
“From early development like how to eat properly with a knife and fork to eventually looking for their first job.”
Carols by Candlelight is the largest annual fundraiser for Vision Australia’s children’s services.
You can donate now online.
Tickets are also still available to the event on 24 December 2021.