Double the Christmas cheer

The Kensington Gardens social committee put on the first of two Christmas lunches for residents at the retirement village on Tuesday, December 16.

There were 128 in attendance, with a further 123 expected the following day for the second lunch.

Along with their two-course meal catered for by The Milk Bar in Shepparton, guests enjoyed carols sung by the KG Connection band (made up of mostly residents) and lucky draw prizes.

Kensington Gardens facilities manager Glenn Thomas said it was fantastic that the residents organised the event each year.

“We provide the facility, these guys do all the organising,” he said, as he gestured to the crowd he was enjoying a meal with.

“They raise the money, organise it all. It’s such a big event they can’t do it all in one day.

“An army of people arrive to set it up. It’s such an active group.”

Residents Don and Cheryl Kilgour, who are members of the residents’ committee and social committee, respectively, were enjoying their fourth Christmas lunch event at Kensington Gardens.

“It’s just a wonderful day to have a time where members of the social committee organise it but also get to enjoy it,” Mr Kilgour said.

Because there are two events across two days, the social committee and Kensington Gardens staff, who are also invited to join in, are split in half so everyone gets to enjoy the festivities on one of the days while they work on the other.

“It’s a really special day,” Mr Kilgour said.

“It’s good to come and spend time with old friends and meet new people too.”

When the remaining two building stages of the lifestyle village are completed in the coming years, there will be up to 500 residents to cater for, at which time organisers of the Christmas event have said they may stretch the luncheons across three days.

What’s better than two Christmas lunches?

Three Christmas lunches, of course.