While most local families spend their Christmas morning unwrapping presents, the city’s emergency crews will roll out of Woodridge Fire Station with sirens singing, lights flashing and Santa waving from the back of a fire truck.
The Logan Emergency Services Santa Run begam seven years ago, and is now a beloved Christmas tradition featuring a convoy spanning police, paramedics, urban and rural firefighters, SES, and cadets.
For these emergency crews and Santa run organiser Louie Naumovski, who is the brains behind the Logan House Fire Support Network, the magic of Christmas morning is seeing hundreds of cheering kids lining the streets.
And it’s often the one time doing their job brings smiles to the entire community, with many officers volunteering even when they’re not rostered.
“They just want to be a part of it,” Mr Naumovski said.
“It’s just a fantastic morning.”
Last year, Logan locals donated more than 1500 toys for the run.
Around 400 were handed out on Christmas Day. The rest went to police stations, paramedics and Logan Hospital to hand out.
The convoy leaves Woodridge Fire Station at 8am. Families hold street parties, kids run out in pyjamas, and neighbours gather at driveways waiting for the distant wail of sirens.
The convoy’s first big stop is the ADRA Community Centre, where a free barbecue breakfast is served to families doing it tough.
Santa jumps down from the truck to hand out gifts before the convoy pushes on toward Logan Hospital.
There, Santa makes his way through the children’s ward to deliver presents to kids spending Christmas in hospital.
By lunchtime, the run is complete – giving on-duty crews time to return to their own families.
Mr Naumovski said the event only works because Logan shows up every year.
“It’s a great community we’ve got here,” he said.
“Everyone gets behind it.”
