Raymond Gregory Thorp is a resident at Ingenia Gardens in Melton South. For years, he has been bringing Christmas spirit to his area through his work as a volunteer Santa, his gift building project where he makes wooden toys for kids, his letters from Santa, and his miniature Christmas village which he estimates is worth almost $30,000.
What’s your connection to Melton?
I live at Ingenia Gardens Melton back village for the past 8 years, and I have family living close by.
What do you like about where you live?
I like living at Ingenia Gardens as I like having connections with other residents at the village plus the safety, the security and all the social aspects of living in a retirement village.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
I would like to have cooking facilities in my unit.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
I like spending time with the Melton’s Men’s group.
Tell us about your Christmas village project at Ingenia Gardens…
I have been putting up the miniature Christmas village at Ingenia Gardens for the past eight years – it has grown quite a lot over the years as I keep adding to it each year. It has become a huge project which takes 3 days to set up with help from other residents. There are so many working parts, lights, trains, buildings, trees, and people. It takes a lot of time and effort to put it up and I try to arrange it differently each year – it is a labour of love and the finished result is a sight to behold. I started collecting pieces 22 years ago and will keep adding to it. I mainly have the Bradford Xchange and Lemax Christmas houses etc. I am looking for a fire station which I have been unable to find yet.
The miniature Christmas village can be viewed each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6 pm to 9 pm during December up until Christmas Day – a gold coin donation would be appreciated.
Tell us about your volunteer Santa work and what you like about it…
I Enjoy working with kids, so I volunteer to be Santa at various venues including Scout Cubs, Bunnings, Joeys, YPA, Andrews Hobbies and shopping centres which I have been doing for a long time.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you…
I am 80 years old but very active – I make wooden blocks and other items as gifts for the children. I love working with wood and am a keen gardener, I grow a lot of plants and look after the roses at the village – they are growing beautifully.
Letters to Santa Ray can also be placed in the mailbox outside the Ingenia Gardens community room or posted to:
Santa Ray
67/23 Coburns Road, Brookfield Vic 3338
Please don’t forget to put a name and address on the back so that Santa can write back to the kids.
