magical onesteel christmas pageant in whyalla
employees and families take part in special event
6 January 2026
The 2025 OneSteel Whyalla Christmas Pageant was nothing short of magical, blessed with perfect weather and a spectacular lineup of floats including our very own Polar Express locomotive.
Nearly 40 OneSteel Manufacturing Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (OneSteel) employees and their families donned festive shirts and hats to join the fun, handing out lollies and spreading festive cheer to thousands of smiling faces along Nicolson Avenue.
Leading the way was our resplendent train conductor Chris Smyth (General Manager Sustainability, Regulatory, Environment and Community picture below right) supported by his Polar Express helpers.
Together, the OneSteel team brought joy and inclusivity to the day with Polar Express Golden Ticket bookmarks and stickers for kids who couldn’t have lollies.
“The gratitude from parents, of the kids who can’t have lollies, made that addition especially worthwhile,” Chris said
Behind the scenes and leading up to the event, the pageant working group met regularly to plan the pageant and support other community initiatives.
These included helping the Shooting Stars girls create their own float through the HOPE Incentive program. Together we brought their vision ‘Wish Upon A Shooting Star’ to life, and the girls looked beautiful as they joined the parade.
Seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces and hearing the cheers as we passed by made it all worthwhile.
Chris Smyth
Community and Stakeholder Coordinator Dan Bateman summed it up perfectly:
“Overall, it was a fantastic team effort that reflected the true spirit of OneSteel … community, collaboration and celebration,” Dan said.
“With more than 40 floats and record crowds lining the streets, the pageant truly felt like the grand final of community events in our community calendar.”
The celebrations continued at the OneSteel After Pageant Fair and the Santos Community Christmas Carols at Civic Park, rounding out a day full of festive magic.
Dan gave a special shout out to Chris, who embraced the role of the conductor. From ringing the bell at every stop to calling out “all aboard”, Chris brought the Polar Express to life.
“Seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces and hearing the cheers as we passed by made it all worthwhile,” Chris said.
“We really want to thank people who put their hand up to come and be part of the team – it really is appreciated and great to see how they enjoyed it too.”
The success of the 2025 pageant was a true reflection of teamwork and community spirit at OneSteel. Every volunteer and family member who joined in played an important role in making the OneSteel float stand out and it was clear the Polar Express brought joy to families across Whyalla.
Pictures contribution from Greg Sketcher Photography.
