Santa Claus

Henry Budd

For nearly two months of the year Bob Harris is every child’s favourite person – Santa Claus. The shopping centre Santa spends six weeks a year entertaining children as part of the Christmas celebrations. “You get mums and dads bringing in their one-week-old babies and sticking them in your arms,” Harris says.

The spirit of Christmas isn’t lost on older generations either, he says.

“I get 18-year-olds coming up,” he says. “Even 70-year-old ladies ask to have their photo taken with you. Everybody loves Santa.”

Harris, a grandfather of two, says being Santa is “magic”.

“It’s very hard for me to tell you how special it is to be Santa Claus,” he says. “Little boys and girls are so trusting because you represent something that is wonderful to them.”

Harris works with helpers who organise the children for the photo and the photographer.

“I sit on a big throne, surrounded by beautiful trees and decorations,” he says.

The role begins in the middle of November with day and night shifts running throughout the Christmas shopping rush.

“Despite sitting down all day, the job keeps you on your toes with the children often asking tricky questions,” he says. “The kids will ask you where your reindeer are. Of course, they’re parked on the roof in a special spot.”

Harris says there is much more to being a Santa than just sitting in the store.

“Not just anybody can do this job well,” he says. “If you’re a cranky old bugger, don’t bother. The kids will know straight away. You have to like kids and have a good attitude.”

There is pressure to make sure children and their parents enjoy the experience, he says.

“You can get a kid that is screaming its head off because it’s terrified of you, but the parent really wants that nice photo with Santa and they don’t understand why you can’t make the kid smile,” he says.

Last year Harris was recognised by his employer, Westaff, for his hard work. “I got a little certificate that said I was the kindest Santa on the staff. I appreciated that.”

Harris, who grew up with nine brothers and sisters says Christmas has always been a special time of the year.

“We used to struggle, but we made our own decorations and pinched a tree from a forest somewhere and dragged it home and put it in a bucket with sand and bricks,” he says.

The most rewarding part of his job is working with people with special needs.

“It breaks your heart, but I felt it was a really worthwhile job,” he says.