Due to Santa shortages in Australia’s urban shopping centres, Rivett resident Tony Moore – who’s been a local Santa for 25 years – has been flown all-expenses-paid to Perth, Mackay and Brisbane to fill vacancies.

Apparently, a good Santa is hard to find and 70-year-old Tony’s wealth of experience has seen him recruited interstate by various photo companies, with his only expense being meals. He earned his stripes in all of Canberra’s shopping centres and these days his mantra is: have beard, will travel.

“Santas are very hard to find; they can’t get Santas so they call on people from here,” Tony said. “There are Santas out there that are not Santas, they’re just in it for the money. They don’t have fun with the kids. You’ve got to love kids, you’ve got to love Christmas. I sit on the floor and play with the kids and I do lots of silly things with them.”

There’s no doubt in my mind that Tony loves Christmas because he has a collection of 56 bells, including a sentimental brass bell that’s been handed down from Santa to Santa for the past 25 years in Canberra. When Tony retires, he’ll hand it to the next recruit.

When Tony (a retired carpet-layer) first started working as a Santa, the photo companies used 35mm film and customers would have to come back a week later to collect their pictures. He used to work 10-hour shifts, five days a week during the six-week season. These days, he’s out of the shopping malls and working his own hours.

Thanks to two-and-a-half decades of being Santa in Canberra, Tony’s built up a strong following in the local community and now he and his wife Sharon (Mrs Claus) travel to their loyal clients. Anywhere, anytime.

They bring the backdrops and the Santa suit (no beard required, he grows his own) and clients take unlimited photos. The pair also do free work for charities and this year they’re visiting the RSPCA.

“I’ve worked just about every shopping centre here in Canberra,” Tony said. “Now we go anywhere, we go to the families. If we make a bit of money, it’s just enough to go to Queensland or to go down the coast. We’re not out to make a killing, we’re just out to make kids happy.”

Over the years, Tony’s posed with Kenny Koala, ACT police officers, paramedics and firefighters – even a few snakes, pigs and ferrets. Since 2019, Tony’s been Santa at Jerrabomberra’s Carols by Candlelight, where he gets “mobbed” annually. He gets booked 12 months in advance each year.

Tony’s trademark Santa beard makes him easily recognised whenever he’s out shopping, attracting waves and g’days from his young fans.

“I enjoy it,” Tony said. “Mums just say ‘Santa’s out looking, keeping an eye on you’. There’s a lot of people we know.”

One dedicated family even comes down from Penrith each year for a Santa photo with Tony.

“They moved up there and they couldn’t find a good Santa so they come back down here,” Tony said.  “We have regulars and they come and see us every year. It’s just something that I’ve loved doing. We just rock on and roll around, we just go where we have to and do what we’ve got to do. We’re not forced to do everything quickly, we take the time and get down to the kids level.”

Tony’s Santa hotline is 0406 975 961 or you can also email [email protected].