by DOUGLAS JONES

There is no doubt that Gordon Rebeira (of KOPYKATZ and an Old Ben to boot) is also a one-man band that can lure anyone with two lead feet on to the dance floor. He did that with finesse on the night with guitar, vocals and appropriate audio backing that held a better part of one-third of the 300 guests jiving, cha-cha-ing and quick stepping at his bidding.

Now Christo Pietersz (of Night Shift and equally an Old Ben) the other one-man band on the night, provided the guests with music of the easy tempo - the soft lights, romantic variety with such renditions as New York New York and many more of that genre .

But when later, the one-man bands became a two-man band, they gave our nostalgic Bens and friends what they can't go without on a night like this – the Baila – and didn't they all lap it up.

The dinner. Now wasn't that something else again. There was yellow rice, string hoppers, a delectable cadju curry, beef smore, the traditional aanang, potato badung and all the other add-ons to go with the fare. The chefs from Curry Leaf in Seven Hills left no pan unturned to make sure the food was flavoursome, chilly hot within reason (except for the katta sambol which you tasted at your own peril) and ensured everybody had plenty to appease their hunger.

Now it was good to see so many young men and women (those that usually get tagged, perhaps unfairly, as the night club set) enjoying the dinner as well as swinging away on the dance floor. Perhaps a good omen for associations such as the Old Bens whose membership is not ageing on a downward scale as we all would like to.

So ends the tale of a great night!

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

POSTSCRIPT: For the past six years there has not been a Sri Lankan event in Sydney that finished without the ubiquitous Ozlanka's presence at sometime during the night. The unblemished face of this website that has had more hits than a boxer behind Mohammed Ali's punches in his heyday, was the inimitable Imitaz Issadeen, accompanied as always by his charming wife Kimie. He was unfailingly there to record the event for history.

And history it was too on this night. This happened to be the last social occasion in Sydney that Imty (as he is affectionately known to his million friends) will be covering personally. He has taken up a position overseas, as it had to happen sometime soon and will be stationed in Japan from later next week. He has assured me, however, that Ozlanka will continue to cover Sri Lankan affairs here unabated and vastly improved as he will now have access to sophisticated Japanese technology.

Sadly, we will all miss his genial presence (as the one thing he does not have is the gift of by-location) to record the events on camera, his expert photographic skill we have all derived so much pleasure from all these years.

Au revoir my friend and may God be with you and yours!