Past productions
Christmas 2008 – Wesley Mission presents a Christmas Eve Special Christmas Past and Present: an era of Aussie experiences
A half hour documentary featuring interviews with elderly Australians about their experiences of Christmas will air on Channel 7 on the 25th of December at 12:30am.
The Wesley Mission documentary, Christmas Past and Present, traces the tinsel train as far back as the Depression in the 1930s, taking a look at how Christmas has been celebrated in hard times and in good. As the interviews unfold, viewers will gain insight into what life was like when abject poverty stared everyone in the face and unemployment was at an all time high.
Memories of past Christmases are brought to life as interviewees tell of decorating the Christmas tree with handmade crimped paper, the joy of extended family celebrations and stealing chooks just in time for Christmas dinner. True-to-period archival footage and photographs sourced from libraries around Australia add depth to the recollections.
The documentary journeys to the present, exposing what Christmas is like for these elderly Australians today. For some, it is a time of sadness and loneliness, as they feel increasingly isolated from family and disconnected from the wider society.
Wesley Mission reaches out to isolated people at Christmas time and all throughout the year and for some, this friendship and support is a lifeline. As one interviewee expresses through tears, “Wesley Mission shows me that somebody cares … somebody actually cares.”
Christmas Past and Present can be viewed on Channel 7 at 12:30am on Christmas Day, 25th of December 2008.
Santa’s forgotten People (Rpt) is also to be broadcast on Channel 7 at 6:30am Christmas Day, 25th of December 2008.
Christmas 2007
- “The Three Fathers of Christmas”,
Channel 9, 10:30am
Australian Christian Channel (Austar, Foxtel, Optus), 5.00pm
Learn more about the Three Fathers of Christmas: - Saint Nicholas
- Santa Claus
- Gifts and God
Santa’s Forgotten People was produced for Channel 7 and telecast on Christmas Day at 8:30am. The half-hour documentary looked at a man named Trenton journey out of alcohol and homelessness. Santa’s Forgotten People reached 171,000 people.
- "Santa's Forgotten People",
8:30am on Channel Seven 25th December
7:30pm on Australian Christian Channel 23rd December
11:30am on Australian Christian Channel 25th December.
Read more.
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