A happy band of HMAA members in NSW gathered for a lunchtime Christmas celebration at the Commodore Hotel on Sydney’s North Shore on Saturday 11 December. Judy Horton reports.
Steve McGrane, who flew down from Coffs Harbour, won the award for travelling the furthest to join in the fun. George Hoad, secretary of HMAA, also clocked up the kilometres. He drove from his home near Taree, coping with some torrential downpours on the way. Other members came from all parts of Sydney, with the venue’s proximity to public transport making it easily accessible.
Speaking of public transport, Karen Smith wants to give a shout out to an anonymous good Samaritan train traveller. Karen had accidentally left her handbag on the train on the first stage of her trip home. She was nearly home before she realised it was missing and had to travel back to Sydney’s very busy Wynyard Station where she found her bag had been handed in to the station staff complete with all its contents (credit cards, ID, money etc) by some kind and honest person who didn’t even leave a name. Who said Sydney has no heart?
Cameron’s Nursery donated a beautiful flowering plant for each attendee and Santa carried out a lucky draw so there was no fighting over the plants. Thank you Sonja and Andy Cameron for your generosity.
We enjoyed a yummy three-course lunch in a private room, which gave everyone the chance to catch up with, as Bernard Chapman said, a REAL PERSON. And we were all delighted to meet Helen Young’s fiancé Trevor and wish them well for their coming wedding on 6 February.
It was a fabulous day (I won’t name the two attendees who stayed on until the pub shut!)
Happy New Year to all!
