Big wrap for Christmas Lunch in the Park from Perth stars

Sports stars, media personalities and other prominent West Australians got stuck into the sticky tape and gift paper yesterday to wrap hundreds of presents for Mission Australia’s upcoming Christmas Lunch in the Park.

About 500 presents were wrapped yesterday at the official launch of Christmas Lunch in the Park 2011, with hundreds more to follow in the next week.

About 4,000 presents will be given out to guests – both adults and children who may be struggling this Christmas season – at Wellington Square, East Perth, on Christmas Day.

Among the “Perthonalities” who snipped and folded paper were Today Tonight’s Monika Kos, Steve Mills from 6PR, Channel 9 News presenters Ebbeny Faranda and Greg Pearce, ABC’s James Lush and Karina Carvalho, James McFarlane, WA Today’s Jenna Clarke, The Big Couch crew from mix94.5 and former West Coast Eagles Glen ‘Jako’ Jakovich and Ross ‘Rosco’ Glendinning.

“When you think that there are 4000-odd gifts to wrap, and this is the 36th year, it’s just unbelievable,” Rosco told westcoasteagles.com. “On the day itself, to see the smiles on the kids’ faces is really what it’s all about."

“It’s fantastic to see everyone down here today to help with the wrapping. Of course, the wonderful effort that Mission Australia does put in to arrange this particular event and also supported by BHP and Bankwest, so without that sort of support it just doesn’t eventuate or continue, so well done to everyone.”

Now in its 36th year, Christmas Lunch in the Park aims to bring the joy of the season to those people in Perth who are doing it tough. Anyone without friends or family to share the Christmas experience with are invited along to our special Christmas Day lunch, which starts at 11.30am.

Each guest will receive a traditional Christmas lunch and a gift from Santa, and will also enjoy fantastic entertainment and great company. There’s no need for our Christmas guests to RSVP – it’s a case of simply turning up to enjoy the fun.

Yesterday Mission Australia's State Director Western Australia Carmen Acosta spoke to thewest.com.au about how generous donations from the public will help make Christmas a little brighter for hundreds of families and individuals this year. Watch the video at thewest.com.au.

Find out how you can make a donation and make Christmas Lunch in the Park 2011 a day to remember visit www.missionpromotion.com/clip.

Caption: Perth Channel 9 News presenters Ebbeny Faranda and Greg Pearce with former West Coast Eagle Glen ‘Jako’ Jakovich at yesaterday’s CLIP launch. (Picture courtesy of John Cooke.)