Students of schools from port Stephens and across the Paterson electorate helped Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson spread the Christmas cheer this year by designing her Christmas cards.

More than 100 local students took up Ms Swanson's invitation to draw or paint a Christmas card design, and a winner was chosen from six finalists by representatives of Raymond Terrace Art Society.

"The cards are beautiful, and show the great depth of artistic talent we have in our community," Ms Swanson said.

"All entries are displayed in the windows of my Raymond Terrace office for people to see."

The winning design, featuring a koala up a Christmas tree, is by Bobs Farm Public School year 4 student Fynn Brunt. Other winners were: Tayah McIntyre, year 2, Stanford Merthyr Infants School; Ahmani Jedniuk, year 2, Medowie Christian School; Karlani Lamond Swan, year 5, Bobs Farm Public School; Connah Newman, year 6, Hunter River Community School, and Kaili Ward, year 3, Tomaree Public School. The winning designs were printed on Ms Swanson's Christmas cards, and also featured in her Christmas newsletter, which was sent to every household in the Paterson electorate.