This week’s Good Sorts is a woman from the Southland town of Riverton doing her best to bring her community together this festive season.
Five years ago, Tanya Colyer was scrolling through Facebook when she stopped on a photo of fairy doors.
Colyer was so taken with them that she ordered her own. She then recruited friends, family, and anyone she could find to pick up a paintbrush.
“It’s a huge community project.”
The doors were then taken to a hill high above Riverton and laid on a track, turning Moore’s Reserve into a Christmas trail.
“Every single door has a story which is really special.”
Now, people aren’t just flocking to the hill to see the doors.
From a Christmas rock tree to a gingerbread lane, Colyer’s created a Christmas display anyone can contribute to.
“Anyone can put something up here. They just have to make sure that it’s weatherproof because, you know, there are four seasons in one day here in Riverton.”
But Colyer didn’t stop there.
After noticing Riverton’s famous Christmas Eve parade didn’t have an outdoor Christmas tree, she got to work and after 30-odd quiz nights, she bought the town a tree – and it arrived just in time.
“It stands very proud in our community as you come in.”
It’s safe to say Colyer is full of Christmas spirit.
“It’s a special time of the year.”
