Sarah Oliver
Jason Deveson has always been a tinkerer.
A couple of years ago, his daughter showed him a video on YouTube of a Christmas light show, and he thought he could give it a go.
“[I thought] it’s probably something I could give a crack…I literally knew nothing about it,” he said.
Towards the end of 2019, he started researching for their 2020 show, which he started building in February of that year, and used about 6000 LED pixels.
This year, the Deveson family have stepped it up, using about 11,000 LED pixels , which Jason said is actually 33,000 individual LED lights.
Incredibly, these lights can produce about 16 million colours.
“It’s pretty impressive when you start breaking down the stats,” he said.
“It’s mainly an American hobby…there’s a big following over there.”
In America, Jason said a lot of people will share light sequences for others to use, which he has done for a few of the songs in his show, but he has included some originals too.
The show officially opened on December 5 at their house on Edenhope Place in Eynesbury and will continue to run every Sunday and Thursday from 8.30 to 10:30pm, and until 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
“The sequences that we include – we try to cover all ages and demographics, so something for the little kids, the bigger kids and a couple of sequences for the adults.”
He said you can “get really creative” and that the possibilities are “endless”.
Those viewing the lights can tune into 98.8FM in their cars to hear the accompanying music which Jason designed through special software.
This year, the show will include a popular Avengers sequence from last year along with Spider-Man, Star Wars, Bluey and The Lion King sequences, among others.
He said he is often asked what he does for a living, assuming he works in lighting.
“I’m actually a train driver for V/line. So I spend most days staring out the window thinking about how I can make my display bigger and better for next year.”
Jason said this year, his family thought they would use the popularity of their lights and music show to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, despite spending roughly 20 cents per light.
“I stopped counting after $4000, but you can’t put a price on seeing how happy it makes the children dancing and singing in the street each night.
“It’s one of those hobbies that…almost becomes addictive,” he said.
Despite being designed with the whole family in mind, Jason said it’s really for the kids, so the family decided to choose a charity for children, which is also one close to Jason’s heart.
“I have a half brother who did receive treatment for leukaemia over in America, and he actually did use their Make-A-Wish Foundation,” he said, where he got to visit Disneyland a few times.
The show is running until early January, and those attending can donate to the foundation through tins placed on the fence posts or via a QR code also on the fence.
Details: bit.ly/3GixWR6
