The Tarran family have been lighting up their Padstow Heights home every Christmas since they first moved in, to spread the Christmas cheer and help their street sparkle.

It takes Tony Tarran the entire month of November to set up the impressive display, which includes thousands of lights and a six-metre tall inflatable Santa.

But it’s not only the smiles on the kids’ faces that keeps the family making their display bigger and brighter each year; they began using it to raise money for charity after Leigh Tarran was diagnosed with stage three brain cancer in 2019.

“After 18 months of treatment, we decided to turn an awful situation into a positive one and try to prevent others from having to go through what our family has,” Leigh said.

“Tony and I have been able to contribute a bit over $100,000 through the lights and fundraising walks to the ‘Cure Brain Cancer’ foundation already, and we aren’t ready to stop just yet!

“Visitors and passers-by can donate to the fundraising page via a QR code outside the display, and our Facebook page called ‘Cure Brain Cancer – Christmas Light Fundraiser’.”

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said the Tarran’s Christmas extravaganza is famous amongst locals, while also attracting people from far and wide to visit Canterbury-Bankstown.

“We’ve had families from the Northern Beaches and Campbelltown come to our City to visit them,” Mayor Asfour said.

“And it’s not surprising that they’ve won the votes of the community and taken out first place in Council’s Christmas lights competition two years in a row!

“I encourage everyone to decorate their homes and show the rest of Sydney that the spirit of Christmas is very much alive in Canterbury-Bankstown.”

Entries for CBCity’s annual Christmas Lights competition are open until Tuesday 13 December.

Submit a picture of your sparkling set up for your chance to win a $500 gift card for first place in your ward, or a $200 gift card for second place in your ward.

Ts & Cs apply. To enter, visit cb.city/ChristmasLights