A look into the history of Father Christmas impersonators found some amazing results in one small Queensland town. I told a version of this story on Ipswich’s West Bremer Radio.

I examined Rosewood history at Christmas time to see what kind of people liked to dress up as Santa impersonators back then. I found some were a little eccentric and others noteworthy.

In 1923 at the annual Christmas party of St Luke’s Church of England at the Farmers’ Hall in Rosewood, Mr Stanley Yarrow dressed up as Father Christmas. He was grocery delivery driver and one of four brothers who served in the Second World War.

In 1928 again at the Farmers’ Hall party put on by St Luke’s, this time the impersonator was Mr Stewart Edwards who was keen to dress up after recently having moved from Brisbane.

In 1931 at the Christmas fair in aid of the St Brigid’s church building fund that was held in the convent school grounds, Mr Victor Shearer impersonated Santa Claus. He was a school teacher who married the daughter of president of the local branch of  the labour party, and later became branch president himself.

In 1936 at the children’s Christmas party organised by members of the Rosewood Masonic Lodge at the Masonic Hall, it was the seventy-nine year old Northern Irishman Mr Thomas Clark who impersonated Father Christmas. His son was an Anglican clergyman, and in this case Santa was dead just two years later.

In 1937 Rosewood made Claus history. At Rosewood’s Farmers’ Hall Mr Bob Yarrow, who was the cousin of the 1923 impersonator, became the first Santa relative to step into the red suit. But more than that, Bob Yarrow was the first Santa sprint champion.

Among his victories was the 100 yards Rosewood St. Patrick’s Day Handicap. That day the Santa impersonator famously beat Bill Burfein who was Queensland’s top sprinter. He would go on to win all Queensland 100 yards and 220 yards State Championships between 1936 and 1941, before war interrupted his career. He also was second in the Australian 100 yards Championships in 1936 and 1937. Burfein was a certainty for Australian team selection for the Empire and Olympic games, however was disqualified because he had previously run professionally. In any case at Rosewood, Burfein was beaten by Santa Claus.

In 1939 there was not one, but two Santa Claus impersonators at Rosewood. Firstly at the School of Arts and the Christmas tree put on by the local branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia, Father Christmas was impersonated by the jovial secretary of the branch, Mr William Clement.

But before I tell you about the second Santa, it should be noted that the most important person in Rosewood that Christmas, was not either of the Father Christmases, but in fact it was Mr. Joseph Bodman. And that’s because he had charge of the ice creams. The peak of Bodman’s moderate fame, other than the ice creams, was his wife Louisa. She served nine years as president of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Rosewood Sub-branch of what would become the RSL while her son served in the RAAF.

Back to the second Santa in 1939, Father Christmas made a second appearance at the Rosewood School of Arts, this time it was Mr Frank Klauke. His brother Fred had been killed by gas poisoning while serving in the First World War. His son Clarence signed up for the navy in 1946 after all the fighting was over in the Second World War and served in the safest of jobs as an assistant cook. But the assistant cook was killed in an accident while performing his service. Tragically not even his father the Father Christmas impersonator could save him.

Of all these excellent Rosewood Santa Clauses, I reckon the sprint champion Mr Bob Yarrow has to be the most noteworthy.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO A VERSION OF THIS STORY TOLD ON WEST BREMER RADIO.

Photo credits:
Representation of Father Christmas at Farmers’ Hall, Rosewood – Copilot.
Stanley Yarrow in cart, John Street, Rosewood c1928 – Picture Ipswich.
Boys band in front of Farmers Hall, Rosewood, early 1950s – Picture Ipswich.
Bob Yarrow 1st on left, Ruhnos General Supply Company, Rosewood, 1931 – Picture Ipswich.
William Burfein – Telegraph, Brisbane, 16th December 1938, page 17.
Frank Klauke, Rosewood Show – Queensland Country Life, 20th July 1939, page 2.