It takes a special someone to dress in a red suit and volunteer their time to bring a smile to little kids and big kids alike. In the Upper Hunter that special someone is Peter Holland and being Santa isn’t the only thing he’s known for.
Pete grew up in Sydney’s west and moved to the Upper Hunter in 2009. He wasn’t living in the region long before he joined the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), volunteering for the Merriwa River Brigade and then moving to the Edinglassie Brigade.
After more than 12 years with the RFS he’s been to his fair share of the region’s biggest bushfires.
“I had just started a job at the local radio station in 2017 when the Sir Ivan Bushfire broke out. A couple of years later in 2019 I was helping in the Putty area with the Gospers Mountain blaze. It was massive, I would finish my radio shift and go drive a firetruck all night and get straight back into work the next day.
“The choice to volunteer for the RFS was easy. I wanted to help my community, especially in a smaller town like Merriwa with only 1000 people at the most – they depend on those local volunteer emergency services.
“I always find it good for my mental health to volunteer too, it makes you feel good,” Pete smiled.
Speaking of feeling good, Pete makes everyone’s Christmas when he pulls on his red Santa suit.
“I’ve been doing that since I was in my 20s. I just love it. I love seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces, especially the ones who are scared at first, but I make that connection with them and they realise how cool it is.
“We did a photoshoot in Merriwa a couple of years back, I volunteered my time to go out there and take photos with the kids who couldn’t come to the bigger towns to get a photo with Santa. I jump on the firetruck for the lolly run too – it’s a great way to lose weight!”
He said there’s one person in Merriwa he looks forward to seeing every year.
“This boy has a disability and every year I see him he is just so excited. His smile and excitement are like nothing else. It’s moments like that that make you want to keep doing it.”
Pete has been a part of a few other committees as well including the Preschool Committee in Merriwa and been on the board for Hunter Valley Group 21 Rugby League.
“I love rugby league and without volunteers on that board we wouldn’t have that great place for kids to start. So many great footballers started their journey in the Upper Hunter and now they’re playing in the NRL.”
The aforementioned radio Pete does is at the local commercial station 981 2NM. That job started with volunteering too for a couple of years before he was hired full time in 2017.
“I love broadcasting to the Upper Hunter, keeping everyone informed, sharing people’s stories and being a friend to each and every individual listener.
“One moment that stands out is when two of our announcers did a project helping local farmers during the drought. We went out and put on nights of entertainment and a feed and were able to connect with people and let them know they weren’t alone – that’s why we do this job, to help people.”
Pete wouldn’t be able to do any of it without his own support network.
“I keep dragging my wife around, we have a beautiful daughter too. If you don’t have a supportive family when you’re volunteering and putting your life in danger to help others you couldn’t do it.”
