December 27, 2012
The Salvation Army’s annual South Burnett Community Christmas Lunch was the place to be on Christmas Day with a crowd of about 110 people packing the Kingaroy Senior Citizens Centre.
Guests ranging in age from toddlers to seniors travelled from all over the South Burnett to attend … from Yarraman, Wondai and Murgon, as well as all over Kingaroy.
Free transport was offered to those who needed it with Huston Ford donating the use of a small bus.
The guests enjoyed a two-course Christmas lunch of roast beef, turkey, ham and roast vegetables topped off by a dessert of plum pudding, trifle, custard and ice-cream … and, most importantly, they also enjoyed the companionship of others on what can be a very lonely day.
The lunch – which was free, but guests were invited to make donations – was put together by a small organising committee.
They were assisted by volunteers from local service clubs and businesses who all took time out to decorate the tables, cook the meals, welcome the guests, wait on the tables and then clean up afterwards.
Salvation Army Captain Carolyn Kerr said the Community Christmas Lunch was designed to provide a way to help people who might be lonely on Christmas Day – for whatever reason – to come together and enjoy some of the spirit of the season.
“There’s always people who are lonely on Christmas Day or feel they can’t celebrate at home,” she said.
“But the community lunch provides an opportunity for everyone to enjoy a good meal, chat with others and feel a bit more festive.”
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The organising committee would like to thank the following groups and businesses for their assistance with the event: Andersson’s Fruit Market, Huston Ford, Doug Henderson, Howard Leisemann, Kingaroy Butchery, Kingaroy Lions, Kingaroy Meals On Wheels, Kingaroy Rotary, Kingaroy Senior Citizens, Kingaroy-Taabinga Rotary, National Australia Bank staff, Quota Club of Kingaroy, Salvation Army Corps South Burnett Region, SBcare, and South Burnett CTC.
A thank you also to the groups that helped spread the word, including Centacare South Burnett, CROW-FM, Country Focus, Kingaroy and District Ministers Association, Murgon Moments, Radio 4SB, southburnett.com.au and the South Burnett Times.
And, of course, to all the volunteers who assisted on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
[UPDATE: December 29, 2012]
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