Questelles Beach Keepers hosts annual Christmas Party

The Director of the Questelles Beach Keepers has given back to the children of Questelles by delivering a Christmas experience he never had when he was a child.

When one gets plucked from his or her home, then plopped into a strange environment filled unfamiliar faces, that person may experience a rush of bewilderment and “trauma”.

One of the children who had her face painted.

Such was the life of Rupert ‘Mully’ Mulzac, who was six years old when he was removed from his family in Union Island, and sent to live with relatives in Questelles, as he was found to be more “useful” to his new found family, in assisting with chores around the house that were better ‘designed’ for a male.

Mulzac’s wife, Madge Mulzac who acts as the facilitator of the various initiatives put on by the organisation, said that because her husband grew up poor, he wants to “give back to the community and bring Christmas cheer to the children,” hence the creation of the non-profit organisation, the Questelles Beach Keepers, and the hosting of its annual Children Christmas Party.

Director of Questelles Beach Keepers Rupert Mulzac (right) and wife, facilitator of the event Madge Mulzac.

“If we don’t have any, there’s no Christmas cheer in the village. It’s the first time that the kids in the area…have been exposed to having a Christmas gathering,” she said.

This year on December 16, close to 75 primary school children gathered at the Trinity Apostolic Church for three hours of “Christmas cheer.” After a short session of Bible study, the children dashed to the bouncing castle which was stationed upstairs of the church compound.

A young lady strikes a pinata with a stick while blindfolded as the others wait for their turn.

They then stuffed their faces with cakes, sandwiches and drinks, while some were seen encircling the face painting artist waiting for their turns to have their faces painted.

However, when the pinatas were brought out, the children eagerly assembled to take turns to smash the sweets out of the dangling boxes, and when they did, they threw themselves on the floor to grab the goodies that had fallen out.

This child is playing with a bubble blower.

Their attention was then brought to a table with dozens of toys from which to choose. They raised their hands and jumped in excitement after seeing a toy that was to their liking. And while playing with their Christmas presents, ice-cream and popcorn were served by assistants at the party.

The next item on the agenda was a competitive game of musical chairs which began while the party bags were being distributed to the children.

The Keepers will also be donating gift baskets to 14 geriatric members of the Questelles community later this month.

In previous years, the organisation had also restored the community’s old well on Questelles beach that had become unsightly after being laden with trash, and is working tirelessly to ensure that the Questelles beach is always kept clean and beautiful.

A child is having fun with her bubble blower, while two other have a chat.

Madge acknowledged the assistance of We FM 99.9, Lawyer Joe Delves, Finishing and Furnishing, Everready Funeral Home, Facey Trading, C.K. Greaves and Company, Ju-C, and the Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies, as well as the Beach Keepers team.