Great Expectations...that’s what lay ahead for the 75 Club members, partners and friends as they eagerly awaited, firstly, the sounds of the Central Melbourne Choir (including Kevin Love, Millie Swann, Peter Duras, Alice Miller, Rebecca John, Stuart Ellis, Lynne Webber and Frank O’Brien) under Choir Master, Gerard Hogan, and secondly, the return of Santa Claus after a well earned rest.....our Annual Christmas Breakfast had arrived.
A couple of tunes later ("Do You Hear What I Hear" and Roy Orbison’s "Pretty Paper" (for those who missed them!!), President Neville, opened proceedings by welcoming the following guests:
President Robert Fisher, RC Melbourne
Assistant District Governor Dale Hoy
Past District Governor Uttam Ganguly, District 3291 and member of RC Rabindra Sarobar, and daughter Puja
Anne Mitchell, Steps Ministry / part of Concern Australia
Annie Jones, Lentara / part of Uniting Church
Representatives from SisterWorks, a non profit social enterprise which our Club supports.
After acknowledging Country by telling the story of Greg Muir, an aboriginal artist, President Neville, welcomed Suvam Ganguly to the stage to toast Rotary International.
Thereafter, President Neville invited Frank O’Brien and Darren Park, both Paul Harris Fellows, to receive Sapphires for their work within Rotary. Frank received his award from President Neville for longstanding work within our Club and Darren received his award from PDG Neville John for his work in auditing the District accounts over the last 3 years and the Shepparton District Conference.
We then heard from Therese Robinson, Director Community Services, regarding the annual gift giving ("Tree of Joy") collected from TAL from their 2 Melbourne offices which will be distributed to the Steps Ministry and Lentara.
And as if we hadn’t heard enough of our Club Choir, they returned with community singing..."Aussie Jingle Bells" and "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" ... and right on cue, Santa (aka Brett Jones) came to town...distributing gifts and goodwill to all.
Suzette Taylor found 5 lucky seat holders with vouchers from SisterWorks and thereafter it was left to President Neville to close the Breakfast...but not before he thanked :
the Christmas Breakfast Organizing Committee
Alison Chan for not only coordinating the Christmas Hamper arrangements but also bagging and repackaging the various spices which members had ordered as part of their hampers
the Central Melbourne Choir who returned for one last Carol, appropriately ..."We Wish You a Merry Christmas".
Post meeting, Alison Chan and Mary Voice received the following feedback from a young RACV employee, who had kindly helped with taking the Christmas Hampers downstairs.
"Not a problem, I am pleased to help. It is awesome what you people do. I hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year."