from the GHECKO

The Sydney Bens Welcome to Spring 2010 opened with Dianithi Fernandopulle keeping up the evening's theme of Sydney's ever glorious spring season. Her décor magnificently brought together typical colours of palest pinks, yellows, blues, greens, reds and, in fact, all of the rainbow for that matter. The true-to- nature floral designs of cherry blossoms in fetching balloon-shaped glass vases even had butterflies (hand painted by Diani herself) imbibing the nectar of the night with relish.

To this bring in a very young Craig Dickinson – what a one-man musical sensation! – luring guests, who normally prefer to yak-yak at the early stages of an evening, to letting their feet do the talking for a change. From my perch up the wall, I spied that they were having such a rollicking time that the pangs for a nibble or the desire for a drink was neither first nor foremost in their minds.

That Craig is something else I tell you. You know how we Hoonas cling precariously to the wall? There was many a time he nearly rocked me off my feet. What a disaster that would have been!

Then one needs sustenance after the hectic gyrations on the dance floor. It became the duty of another very young Robert Almeida to tell those from which table was to proceed to dinner. From my vantage point I could see the mischievous glint on his face of how much he enjoyed casting eyes on one table and calling out to the next. All in good fun. Robert was our EMCEE on the night. I tell you, from a lowly (or lofty?) Hoona's opinion, this boy will go places!

Yes, we were talking about dinner. It had the flavour of India and was sumptuous. Not only that, the dinner was tasty and plenty to go around.

Then our new President Garrick Mutukisna, after a few words of welcome to the 280 guests and usual acknowledgements, got on with the raffle draw. An array of prizes went the way of many guests and I could observe that those who did not win, were happy that they were a part of it.

I am only a lowly Hoona, but I must be losing my faculties if these people did not have the time of their lives with the Sydney Bens Spring night.

Click here to enjoy an album of photos taken by Doug Jones