Carols on Dobell’s music coordinator, Julie Hodge, a retired local teacher of 30 years, said the value of music as a confidence-builder for children was immense.

And seeing children at Carols on Dobell share the stage with the seven-piece Newcastle Army Band was a complete joy, she said.

In the spirit of the acclaimed ABC documentary, Don’t Stop the Music, Mrs Hodge said it was uplifting to see the musical achievement of children who often felt they were “not fabulous at other things”.

Children from three local public schools - Wangi Wangi, Arcadia Vale and Rathmines – and Wangi’s Peter Pan Pre-school performed before arguably the biggest audience Carols on Dobell has ever attracted.

Among the local singers who performed on the night were Jacqui Daley, Gabby Brady, Molly Herbert and Sam Dilley, Ali Hodge, Jasper Wind, Alex Taylor, Tashana Hardy, the Stilling Street Singers and the Wangi Maori Culture Group.

Mrs Hodge said a member of the Newcastle Army Band told her “Carols on Dobell is our best gig of the year”.

Jim Wilson, of Wangi Lions Club, said there was a unique feel to Carols on Dobell which residents appreciated.

“We are very aware of the community wanting a very localised event and believe a great deal of that goal is delivered by keeping the content of the program as local as possible,” Mr Wilson said. 

“Our Carols on Dobell has established itself as a major event in the Wangi area calendar and seems to be growing every year.

“Dobell Park was almost at capacity this year and we were concerned Santa wouldn’t make it back to the North Pole having to sit for quite some time giving lolly bags to the throngs of children.”

Three people charged over alleged car-jacking near Toronto

Operation Ride Safe hits Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie