DOUG JONES reporting

Children and Christmas are somehow inseparable. That’s been the way since the Stable at Bethlehem more than two centuries ago. It’s no different now. This was confirmed when the Bellbirds Club held their night of Christmas Carols on 10 December at the Don Moore Community Hall in North Rocks.

Children were not there in their numbers, but the few who were, exuded the spirit of Christmas in no uncertain way. They danced and frolicked their way to the hearts of everyone – specially doting parents and grandparents. And President Angela Jansz perceived that mood and encouraged the spirit of the moment. At one point, Angela invited the three little girls seated at the foot of the stage to spearhead an important item of the evening - draw the raffle tickets for the three major prizes. It was a treat to us adults watching the winsome threesome, Zoe, Natalia and Alana, take to their duties in all the seriousness they could muster… 

A constant stream of guests, 230 in number and sparklingly attired to enhance the atmosphere, poured in from opening time to be greeted by a décor invitingly meant to be the harbinger of yuletide. Greeted by the beaming smiles of Bernadine Jansz and Cheryl D’Abrera at the front desk and other committee members, Jeanne Kuveju, Ingrid Keuneman, Lily Rebeira, Hyacinth Jones and others with Chris Swan making sure guests were ushered to their allotted seats, the party got into top gear. Not before each guest was presented with the season’s first piece of Christmas cake – an unbroken Bellbirds tradition of many years.

From there Gordon Rebeira, Darrell de Silva, Cliff Willenberg and Roger Menzies got on to accompanying the choir in the singing of all the favourite Christmas carols and soon after, the audience joined in unison.

Next the inevitable happened. Santa Claus arrived (because of Roger Hesse’s untiring efforts) with all the bells and whistles he’s known to use to make his presence felt. And weren’t the children aptly rewarded with his thoughtful presents. He did toss around a bag or few bags of lollies for those parents with a sweet tooth to pamper.

Ah! the dinner. And wasn’t that mouth-watering? Cheryl Pietersz catering had an array of delectable dishes that satisfied the hungry crowd. Wash that down with a tasty dessert and a cuppa or two of tea or coffee.

During the break, new committee member Alan Trigg entertained the guests with a few favourites on the Recorder. Another of Alan’s hidden talent coming to the fore much to the delight of the Bellbirds!          

Post-dinner, Gordon and the boys left nobody’s feet at rest as they provided some hip-swinging music that jived the night into a toe-tapping finale.

Some hailed this the best Bellbirds Christmas party they’ve known. Rest assured, the best is yet to come. Though the Bellbirds New Year’s Eve Ball 2011 would be Auld Lang Syne to the club’s activities for the year, don’t forget that’s one rendezvous you cannot afford to miss.

See you at the frolics at the Rydges Hotel Ballroom in Rosehill on NYE.

Click here to enjoy an album of photos by Doug Jones