The show must go on! Wet weather doesn’t stop Carols on the Hill celebrating the joy of Christmas

By Josh Low

Despite the inclement weather throwing a spanner in the works, hundreds still flocked to St Mary’s Cathedral in Hobart on 7 December for an evening of festivities at this year’s Carols on the Hill.

With the condition of the oval at Guilford Young College deemed inappropriate following 12 hours of continuous rain, the decision was made around midday to change the venue, just hours before the event was due to commence.

What followed was a monumental effort to shift resources and set up anew in the Cathedral space within a few hours, while working around the Cathedral’s weekly Saturday evening Vigil Mass.

This year’s Carols on the Hill featured an array of musical acts, including the Augusta Singers, Salsita Carols, the St Mary’s Cathedral Choir, the Vietnamese Catholic Community, the Kingston Collective, and a combined group of the Derwent Symphony Orchestra and Southern Tasmania Community Orchestra, among several others.

Archbishop Julian said it was a wonderful evening, despite the drama of the day.

“So many people were saying how wonderful the night was, with some who may not have otherwise stepped into a church before,” he said.

“I think this event just really helps people enter into the true spirit of Christmas, especially when hearing some of those beautiful traditional carols being sung.

“We’ve had such a variety of people, the Vietnamese, the Colombians, young people from youth groups, and professional singers, that whole mixture of all sorts of different people coming together.

“There was a beautiful harmony about the whole night and its presentation, and it is good to be reminded of the wonder, the beauty and the mystery of Christmas,” Archbishop Julian said.

Elizabeth Sexton was a first-time attendee at Carols on the Hill, having travelled down from Launceston on the day.

“It was really nice to be here and experience the joy on display; carols always help to get people into a festive mood, especially in the lead up to Christmas.

“I particularly liked the performances by the orchestras, Izak Hangan and the Augusta Singers.

“It also inspired me to want to do more, and maybe even contribute by taking part in it myself next year,” she said.

Diane Kelly was the main organiser of the event and said the evening brought people together in unity.

“We wanted to have our Archdiocesan singers, people from the parishes, people of different nationalities and backgrounds, and bring everybody together.

“That’s the one thing that we were wanting to focus on this year, and with all the last-minute changes, unity was certainly required! But everybody got together, and it really was a group effort to pull things together,” she said.

“There was a moment tonight when one of the singers, Threesa, was singing Hallelujah – everybody joined in with it.

“That there, and seeing people’s faces when they sung that part, filled with joy, it was just amazing. I just hope that people were able to walk away with joy and the spirit of Christmas.”