Holiday season enthusiasts will welcome the sight of a newly-installed community Christmas tree as a sign that the festive period is upon the Macleay. The new tree has been erected once more on the corner of Smith and Belgrave Streets and now consists of three sections which were decorated at the local Mid Coast Cranes depot before being transported and craned into position during the early hours of Friday morning. During the year the base of the Christmas tree was rebuilt and a metre added to its height.  The Christmas tree was first installed in 2011 following a raffle held by the Kempsey Chamber of Commerce to raise money to purchase the tree and its decorations. Numerous businesses in Kempsey have generously donated money to replace the decorations over the years. The tree has been cared for and installed by Mid Coast Cranes staff since it was first purchased, with Michael Davis and Liam O’Regan undertaking the decorating of the tree each year.