A Medowie man's Christmas lights idea that bloomed into an impressive musical production is not one to be missed while on the hunt to find the best festive light displays in Port Stephens.
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Trevor Wimmer has spent more hours than he can count designing, putting together, programming and installing lights that flicker and change according to a playlist of songs out the front of his Ferodale Road home.
"I started with this idea at the beginning of the year but it was April when I really started getting into it, ordering the lights and putting them together. It grew from there," Mr Wimmer said.
"Everything has been built by hand. I spent about four or five months building all the lights. Then I programmed the lights to music. I spent anywhere between 40 and 80 hours programming each song to the lights."
How many songs are in the playlist? Thirteen.
But the effort, he said, is worth it as the production is raising funds for two charities - the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Angel Flight.
As a retired RAAF member and a recreational pilot, Mr Wimmer is passionate about helping charitable flying services.
When he built a flight simulator, he used it to stage a world flight challenge to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which works to provide medical and health care services to people in rural and remote parts of Australia. Teams would use the simulator to fly 24-hours for seven days to raise money.
Mr Wimmer has since sold his flight simulator but, wanting to continue his fundraising efforts for the service, has put his efforts into the Christmas lights display.
"This is something a little bit different from what other houses will be doing," he said. "I think a lot of people like to decorate their houses but don't want to go overboard. I'm the opposite. I've spent about $9000 on equipment to go into it. I thought if I am going to something, and do it for charity, then I'll go big."
Mr Wimmer's front yard and home - found at 94 Ferodale Road, Medowie - are decked out with candy canes and stars, a gingerbread man and other lights. There is also a large Christmas tree that was created using strips of lights with a star on top.
For motorists wishing to enjoy the light show, they can tune into 88.5 FM to listen to the music and watch.
There are also speakers out the front of Mr Wimmer's house, so pedestrians on foot can listen and watch.
The lights will go on at 7.45pm each day and turn off at 10pm until December 31.
Mr Wimmer said he will likely keep them on until 10.30pm on Friday, December 6 for those who like to hunt for lights after the Medowie Christmas Carnival wraps up.
Mr Wimmer will be out the front of his home each day with a bucket collecting donations.
Since switching on the light show on December 1, Mr Wimmer said he has received positive feedback from the community.
"I want to thank the community for really getting on board with what I'm doing." he said. "There's already been some generous donations made to help these two vital services, which wouldn't be available to sick people in need without help like this."
See Trevor Wimmer's Christmas lights display at 94 Ferodale Road, Medowie from 7.45pm-10pm each day. The final day will be December 31. A gold coin donation is appreciated.