North alight

BRANCHING OUT: Subha Simpson, Esther Konings-Oakes, Cr Anthony Aitken, Monique Jacques, Cr Kylie Grzybek, Liz Bonner and Jenna Wade, with children Juliette and Lena Chu, welcome Corio’s Christmas tree.

Corio has its own oversize Christmas tree thanks to a council initiative spreading festive cheer beyond central Geelong.

City Hall installed the six-metre tree at Corio Library this week as part of a $60,000 council spend on activities for ‘Christmas in the North’.

Council’s Christmas program would also install decorations in 14 other suburbs and towns including Highton, Geelong West, Lara and Ocean Grove, City Hall said,

Mayor Stephanie Asher welcomed the decorations as evidence of Geelong’s unofficial recognition as “Australia’s Christmas capital”.