Grampians Adventure Golf opened their doors to anybody who experienced Christmas without their family on Monday.
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Business owner Denise Thompson said there was nothing worse than spending Christmas alone, so she and her husband aimed to reach out to those people.
“My husband has family members in every state all over the country so at Christmas time it is just us two, which can get a little bit lonely,” she said.
“We need to work over Christmas so we can’t really travel, it’s just the nature of the industry and we were going to go to Melbourne on Christmas day to help out at a soup kitchen, but we thought why not do something like that here.”
Mrs Thompson said many tourists and backpackers at Halls Gap would not have anybody to spend their Christmas with.
“So we opened our doors, we had mince pies, pavlova, scrabble and monopoly – it was a very relaxing atmosphere,” she said.
About 25 people, including four children, attended the small Christmas gathering.
“We were saying hi to different people at different times of the day,” Mrs Thompson said.
“It was a nice experience for them – we enjoyed meeting these people and the enjoyment went both ways.
“It was nice to receive as well as give on Christmas.”
Mrs Thompson said she introduced mince pies to a Jewish family celebrating Christmas for the first time.
“They had just finished celebrating Hanukkah, but they came along and celebrated Christmas with all of us too,” she said.
Mrs Thompson said this year was her and her husband’s second Christmas at Halls Gap and they intended to continue this new tradition they started together.
“We think it is a great way to spend Christmas and we hope to continue this in the future,” she said.
“Christmas is not all about gifts, sometimes we have to open our homes and celebrate Christmas in a way that seems to be lost sometimes.”
Stawell Neighbourhood House also organised a Christmas lunch for anybody who did not have family or friends to spend the day with.
The community group posted to social media calling on people to join their special event.
“All set up for our Christmas Day lunch on Monday. If you know of anyone who hasn't got family or friends to spend the day with let them know there are still a few places left.”