Rotary Club of Guernsey
TREE OF JOY
The lights go up!!
This Sunday 15th November volunteers from the
Rotary Club of Guernsey will be installing the light strings for
the Tree of Joy on the Weighbridge roundabout at the bottom of St
Julian’s Avenue.
With the whole operation overseen by Andy Way
of Marine & General and cranes from Bob Froome, the cross stays
on the mast will be removed ready to accept the supports for the 32
light strings and the Christmas star.
Rotary volunteers have already installed the
ground anchors which will hold the ends of the lights in place and
resist the high wind loads we often experience over the festive
period while the Tree of Joy is lit.
Work commences early in the morning with the
inner lane of the roundabout coned off to provide access for the
cranes. At least two cranes working in tandem are required to
safely remove the cross stays and a separate machine to provide a
platform for the technicians to dismantle major elements of the
mast.
The work of the Rotary volunteers is all ground
based, leaving the more technical work to the experts. This is a
major logistical exercise with commitment from a number of sources,
not least of which are the sponsors of the Tree of Joy, Deutsche
Bank, Long Port Group and Sure.
Without the financial support of our sponsors
this annual exercise to create, what has become an icon of
Christmas in the island, the Tree of Joy would not be
possible.
“This is our 5th year installing the light tree
on the roundabout” says Rotary Community Services Chairman David
Parish.
Volunteers meet at 09:30am when the majority of
the high level dismantling work is completed. They are armed with
socket sets, hi – viz jackets and sturdy gloves as they secure the
light strings to the ground anchors and install the Rotary boards
promoting the Tree of Joy. How do we get so many volunteers? Well
it could be the promise of bacon butties at the White Rock café, a
special treat for any Sunday morning!
More importantly why does the Rotary Club of
Guernsey go to all this trouble to light up the roundabout?
The Tree of Joy is not about lights on a tree,
it is about reminding islanders that Tree of Joy present tags will
be distributed from Monday 30th November. Each year the Rotary Club
consults with local welfare agencies and schools to identify
deserving children who would benefit from a present at Christmas
which otherwise they may miss out. These tags with details of a
child’s first name only, age and suggested present are distributed
to host establishments who help in filling the present
requests.
The Rotary Club of Guernsey relies on the
generosity of the Guernsey public to satisfy the demand for
presents. The Rotary Club acts as facilitator, identifying the need
and managing the request and distribution of presents back to the
welfare agencies.
The switch on of the Tree of Joy on Friday 27th
November signals the start of this annual campaign and a frenetic
few weeks before Christmas for all of Santa’s little helpers and
Rotary Club volunteers.
Your assistance in promoting our campaign would
be most appreciated.