Ron Hunter has traditionally spent his December mornings on a kayak waving and spreading Christmas cheer to cars crossing the bridge at Lake Cathie.
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Alongside his best mate Ruby the dog, Ron smiles and waves much to the delight of kids and adults on their way to school and work.
Unfortunately kayaking on a lake with no water is not possible, so Ron has swapped his trusty vessel for a deck chair on "Sand Cathie".
"It is pretty upsetting seeing the lake with no water in it right before Christmas," Ron said.
"I have been kayaking at the lake for many years and one Christmas I decided to pop on a Christmas hat and a beard and everyone loved it.
"I get toots from cars and the kids point and wave as they go along the bridge which always brings a smile to my face."
This year Ron started his Santa waving on December 9, a bit later than usual, but still loves getting out and seeing the smiling faces each morning.
"I hope that my waving makes everyone who drives past have a little smile on their face as they start their day," he said.
Ron said over his many years kayaking he has seen the landscape change from a healthy habitat with animals to a near empty hole.
"Everyone knows how bad the situation with the lake is, there is literally grass growing where there used to be water," he said.
"When I first started eagles would fly by hunting fish and kangaroos would come swimming past me and the lake was so deep you could only see their little heads until they got to the other side.
"One year I had a stingray come up and knock on the bottom of the kayak and scare the hell out of me.
"When the lake was open to the ocean I would kayak out the mouth of the lake and smell the fresh air - it was wonderful but it is all different now and it is really sad."
For Christmas, Ron said he hopes for water to fill the lake and for people to be kind.
"Hopefully council can do something - they would be a lot more popular if they did - and I think Christmas is a good reminder that people should be a little more kind to one another.
"Kindness goes a long way and Merry Christmas everyone."
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