Santa Pub Crawl 21 years young and still growing
Despite now attracting 10,000 people across 22 venues, the organiser of the Santa Claus Pub Crawl for Charity in Wollongong sees room for expansion as the annual event becomes more family-orientated.
Rebecca Slade, Neil Webster, Jess Pinkerton, Al Michaelis and Katie Mazzoni get ready for the 21st Santa Claus Pub Crawl for Charity at the North Wollongong Hotel. (ABC:Justin Huntsdale)
There should be a moment on December 13 where Neil Webster takes a quiet moment by himself, looks over the thousands of people dressed in red and white and gives himself a pat on the back.
For the Santa Claus Pub Crawl for Charity organiser, this has become a personal crusade against alcohol-fuelled violence that has become a fundraising juggernaut.
And while it's called a pub crawl, it's becoming more family-friendly with the addition of new venues where children can dress up and participate in a safe environment.
"I'm a big picture kind of guy, and I like to think there's always room for growth," Neil says.
"We're trying to encourage venues to come on board and promote the activity and the responsible service of alcohol with some Christmas spirit."
This year he's also brought in the Roads and Maritime Service to station helpers at various points throughout Wollongong's CBD to ensure people are walking safely between venues and catching one of the six dedicated shuttle buses available.
There is also a northern and southern bus to take people home from 11pm to 4am.
"It's one of those events that seem to get bigger every year. The fun people have means they want to come back, and then they want to bring their friends," Neil says.
"We give back to the community and there's no trouble, no issues with violence and everyone walks away happy."
Fundraising for the Salvos
The event raises money for the Salvation Army, and last year $50,000 was donated for use in Illawarra-based programs.
The money is put towards local breakfast programs and also counselling for children in families affected by drugs and alcohol.
"Our big focus is on bringing Christmas spirit back, and we stipulate the money has to come back to the Illawarra, and they're [Salvation Army] very generous with the way they distribute it," Neil says.
A personal crusade
For Neil Webster, it's always been about creating positive change, and for the thousands of people who have attended his event, he just wants to see people take a sensible and fun attitude towards partying at Christmas.
In 1997 he was bashed on Christmas Eve by a bunch of drunken men leaving a venue in Hurstville.
So for every year he sees this enormous group of people socialise and choose not to throw a punch, it's a victory.
"For me, I know I've made a change over the years," he says.
"The assault spurred me to change the way people behave with alcohol, especially at Christmas time.
"We like to have a drink and socialise, but there's no need to drink for the point of fighting.
"Drink to socialise and see your friends and make new friends, but go home safely and wake up Christmas morning knowing you've done something for the community and you've made a change in other people's lives."
The Santa Claus Pub Crawl for Charity is on Saturday December 13 and starts at 12pm, with full details here.
Source: ABC Illawarra Justiin Hunstdale December 11th 2014
