1 min read
24 min read
Steph Young on choosing joy
Steph Young is many things. She’s a born and bred Brisbanite, a loyal Broncos fan and the Director of our River City off...
%20(1).svg "Frame (18) (1)")
.svg "Close (1)")
As the festive season kicks into gear, the air fills with a special kind of magic — a blend of excitement, nostalgia, and that ineffable holiday feeling.
It’s a wonderful time of the year, and while there are plenty of people who love Christmas, there are some who really really love Christmas.
These are the people who are the first to rock their Christmas gear. They’re the ones who provide a running countdown on the number of days to the grand event. And they’re the ones who can't hide their excitement when it finally becomes acceptable to start decorating the tree.
We sat down with a few of our merriest team members to learn a little more about what lights them up most about Christmas. Maybe their traditions and rituals will help inspire your own.
For Trish, there’s nothing better than sitting around the Christmas tree with her family first thing on Christmas morning.
“I love watching the nieces, nephews, and the big kids rip open the presents and make a huge mess,” Trish said.
In Trish’s household, Christmas is truly a celebration for everyone to enjoy — even the four-legged friends get involved.
“We wrap treats or toys up in big empty boxes for the dogs to rip open,” she said.
“Having everyone together makes it so special. No matter how old you get, there’s nothing that can dampen that excitement,” she added.
Image: The Gladstone team getting into the Christmas spirit.
Helen’s mother is Latvian, and her childhood memories of celebrating on Christmas Eve with lots of traditional food has always put a smile on her face.
To Helen, Christmas time means food and family.
“[I look forward to making] Latvian treats — they are so unique,” Helen said.
“One year I made Latvian Christmas cookies called Piparkukas. They are a hard ginger cookie that can also be used as Christmas Tree decorations,” she said.
“We had not had these cookies since my grandmother passed away a few years prior. As soon as the ingredients combined in the bowl and I could smell that unique combination of spices and molasses, I was filled with all these memories,” Helen said.
Image: Helen is definitely in the Christmas spirit, painting her nails to match the time of year.
Nothing gets Renee into the Christmas spirit more than decorating her house with her loved ones. She’s the first to admit that during the festive season, the inside of her home bears close resemblance to a Christmas shop — her Christmas tree is so big she needs to use a step ladder to dress it!
“Decorating the house holds a special place in my heart because it’s time for us to spend as a family,” Renee said.
“I have some sentimental Christmas tree ornaments for those special people who have left us — these ornaments are a way that I can represent them still being here with me,” she added.
Image: Renee is spreading the Christmas cheer through the Fraser Coast office.
Every year, Natasha seeks out a different advent calendar for each of her family members.
Straying from the usual chocolate advent calendars most of us are familiar with, this year, the girls in the family will have a new pair of socks every day leading up to Christmas.
While her Dad’s advent calendar will have him building a small lego car each day. At the end of the month, the cars can be joined up to make two robots.
On top of her penchant for unique advent calendars, Natasha loves to share the joy through the soundwaves.
“I also force Michael Bublé on anyone in earshot at work,” she confessed.
Image: Natasha has created her very own Christmas wonderland in the Brisbane office.
Every year, Lisa and her family contribute gifts to the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal or put together shoeboxes filled with gifts for Operation Christmas Child.
“I also love going to Church with my family on Christmas morning as it is important to remind my kids that Christmas is about more than just presents.”
This Christmas season, Lisa’s home will be playing one of her favourite Christmas Carols on repeat, Little Drummer Boy by for KING + COUNTRY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzEX3QMuVPM.
Image: Lisa enjoys spending time with her family at the Community Carols.
Hearing from our Christmas lovers, there was one thing that stood out across the board.
Whether it’s their nana’s recipe for Irish cream or the family favourite rolled turkey thigh that they dream of; whether they opt for a fibre optic tree or a classic aesthetic — these team members see the festive season as a time to spread kindness.
“It’s good to pay it forward, but it’s even more special to do so around Christmas time, as this is the time of year when people are most stressed and preoccupied,“ said Trish.
“If you can do one good act for someone, it is one person’s day you have changed,” she continued.
And if you’ve arrived at the end of this article and are still struggling to get into the spirit, be sure to stop by the Super Cube (where you’ll find Lisa) in the Bundy office or take a slow walk past the Gladstone reception — we hear it’s the ultimate antidote to any Grinchiness.
24 min read
Steph Young is many things. She’s a born and bred Brisbanite, a loyal Broncos fan and the Director of our River City off...
9 min read
Shalom College Year 12 student, Jade Galt, recently completed an eye-opening vacation program at Ulton, one of Queenslan...
19 min read
In 2022, Harvard Business Review author Christie Hunter Arscott ran a study on the dynamics of women’s risk-taking. Of t...
