CLUB CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON, Friday 16 th December 2011. Our annual gala Christmas luncheon was held again at Contessa Receptions for the 8 th and sadly final time as this wonderful venue is to be demolished next year to make way for home units! A record 127 members and friends arrived around midday and congregated in the foyer for a predinner drink and good old Probus chat before moving into the main dining room for the luncheon and entertainment. President Leo welcomed us to our annual celebration and wished everyone the Compliments of the Season and trusted that we will enjoy this day of fun, friendship and fellowship together. Musical entertainment was provided by maestros Ron and Maureen Sudden. We were treated to both background music and solo entertainment during the course of our function. Several also took the opportunity to enjoy a dance to the music. Prior to lunch being served each table group worked on an intellectually challenging game naming carols and other Christmas tunes depicted in 25 printed cryptic cartoons. This created much fun and serious lateral thought process. Several tables successfully answered all the questions correctly, well done to everyone! Lunch was then served and comprised a delicious 3 course meal. Entrée was an alternate serving of Chicken and Mushroom Vol-a-vents and Seafood Crepes; the main course being Turkey and Ham or Pork Roast with optional salad and hot vegetable side serves; and dessert being an alternative serving of Christmas Pudding and Crème Caramel. After the main course we all sang Christmas carols before the star act appeared. Santa Claus arrived this year to Jingle Bells and had again metamorphosed! Santa s comedy routine and his belly slipping episode had everyone in stitches. Santa (aka John), with the assistance of his two Helpers (Leo and Pam), then led the luncheon lucky tickets draw. The major prize winners were Pauline Fischer, Margaret Hogan, Barbara Mcleod, Margaret Rich, Ellie Dolinsky, Des Olin, Pat Taylor and Rosemary Bray. Wine bottle winners were Jan Squires, Jean Lacey, Wendy Page, Bryan Hall, Norma Hinton and Rene Gale. Congratulations to all the lucky winners. At the conclusion of festivities President Leo thanked everybody for attending and expressed his appreciation especially to Pam, Lyn, Margaret and Freda and the other committee members and to Santa John and other helpers, Ron and Maureen Sudden and to Caitlyn and the Contessa staff for making today such a great success. He then again wished everybody a Merry Christmas and a Safe, Prosperous and Healthy New Year. Photos, commentary and sound bites courtesy of Robin Bray. Pam, Margaret and Lyn welcoming members. John and Margaret signing in. Sid and Margaret ordering drinks. Bev and Lindsay at the bar. All mingling and chatting in the Contessa foyer prior to the luncheon. Combined Probus Club of Wheelers Hill Inc. 1
All mingling and chatting in the Contessa foyer prior to the Christmas luncheon. Mingling and chatting in the Contessa foyer prior to the luncheon. Aileen, Sid, Margaret and Lorraine. Val, Heather, Algy, John & Peter. Doug, George, Nadia, Gabrielle, Pauline and Pat. Janice and Bill. Geoff and Alan. Barbara, Lyn, Pat, Jan, Maureen and Brenda. Ian, Margaret and Bev. Val, Ann, Beryl and Margaret. Judith, Brian, Andrew, Margaret and Barbara. John, Gordon, Des, Barry and John. Combined Probus Club of Wheelers Hill Inc. 2
Fairlie, Tricia and Iris. Table 10. Table 13. Table 7. Table 4. Table 1. Table 6. Table 3. Table 2. Table 5. Table 8. Table 11. Table 12. Maestro Ron Sudden. President Leo s welcoming. Combined Probus Club of Wheelers Hill Inc. 3
Rita and Freda. Robina, Judith and Ray guessing the carols. Rodney and Margaret. Margaret and Barbara. Therese, Maureen and Rene. Geoff and Jean. Ros and Dorothy. Jan & Leo. Maureen, Ron and Gwen. John, Barbara and Lorna. Tricia and Margaret. Barbara and Marilyn. Judith and Denise. Trevor and Christine. John and Barbara. Combined Probus Club of Wheelers Hill Inc. 4
Barbara, John & Wendy. Peter and Valerie. Barry and Colin. Serving the salad on Table 13. Judith and Ray serving the veges. Brenda&Charles, Val&Ian, Richard and Lyn. George & Nadia, Algy & Heather join in. Doug & Pauline won t be left out. Maureen entertains in song. Time for carol singing. Ellie and Peter. Rita and John join hands round the table. Santa Claus arrives. His sack looks heavy! Santa s belly is slipping! Combined Probus Club of Wheelers Hill Inc. 5
Helper Barbara will fix it for him. Pam, Santa and Leo with the lucky draws. Santa calls out a number. Pauline is a winner. Margaret is too. Ellie collects her bag of goodies. Santa helps Barbara with hers. Margaret displays her bag. Suzanne collects a bag for Des. Pat is a winner. Rosemary is too. Jan collects a bottle of wine. Jean is a lucky winner. Bryan gets a bottle too. Rene is pleased with her win also. Combined Probus Club of Wheelers Hill Inc. 6
John checks the label on Wendy s bottle. Norma is a lucky winner. What a terrific luncheon we had. Merry Christmas everyone! Combined Probus Club of Wheelers Hill Inc. 7