‘Best dressed lady’ Robyn Masterson stands with her prize before a Cup Day backdrop painted by fellow Kensington Gardens resident and renowned local artist Ross Paterson.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The extravagant annual Melbourne Cup Day event at Kensington Gardens has grown bigger and better over its 16-year-history, says social committee member Jenny McNamara.
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This year’s event attracted 130 punters to the central function space at the lifestyle retirement village, where they enjoyed a chicken and champagne luncheon, sweeps all day long and fashions on the field parades.
‘Best dressed lady’ Robyn Masterson, who has lived at Kensington Gardens for just six weeks and was attending the event for the first time, was highly impressed.
“This is the most amazing function I’ve come to,” she said.
“Just to see so many people here, men and women, it’s a great place to be.”
Social committee chairperson Colin Morris said it took a couple of days to put the room together, which was adorned with balloon arches, flower arrangements, Cup-day props, horseshoe sculptures, hanging silhouette cutouts and artworks, including a photo backdrop, painted by Kensington Gardens resident and renowned local artist Ross Paterson.
A catwalk divided the tables on either side of the room, while several big screens showed the day’s racing action.
A resident of a couple of months, Don McKenzie, dove head first into his first Cup Day event at the Gardens by performing MC duties on the day.
In addition to best dressed lady, prizes were also awarded to best dressed man (Ron Stelfox), and yet to be announced when The News visited, best dressed couple and most fascinating headpiece.
Bev Schumacher, Rosemary Drewitt, Loretta Hanlon and Helen Sleep.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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Sue Walsh and Ian and Cheryl McDougal.
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Megan Fisher
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Lorraine Gledhill, Sophie Tsorbarys, Gail McPherson, Nick Tsorbarys, Robbie McPherson and Don Gledhill.
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Megan Fisher
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The function centre was packed with around 130 diners.
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Megan Fisher
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Neil Fraser cheers on his pick, which came third in the fourth race of the day.
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Megan Fisher
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Jean Dahlberg.
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Megan Fisher
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‘Bookmakers’ Peter McNamara, Bob Hooper and Lorraine Morris ran the sweeps.
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Megan Fisher
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Social committee members Jenny McNamara and Colin Morris.
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Megan Fisher
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A large crowd enjoyed the chicken and champagne Cup Day lunch.
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Megan Fisher
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A catwalk divided the tables on either side of the dining room.
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Megan Fisher
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Spirits were high at the race-day event.
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Megan Fisher
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It took the committee a few days to put the room together.
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Megan Fisher
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The Kensington cup takes pride of place near the biggest screen in the room.
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Megan Fisher
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‘Best dressed lady’ Robyn Masterson with her prize in front of the backdrop fellow resident and renowned local artist Ross Paterson painted.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
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