From NOBIAS

The muso for the night, Craig Dickinson started the ball rolling with some great selections of vintage dance music that guests may just as well have danced on to their seats as they came in. That’s the kind of stuff that young Craig dishes out every time he entertains.

As Garrick Mutukisna (President of the Sydney Bens) wife Lorraine and all the boys from the committee and their spouses got things moving, the 171 guests came pouring in with an unmistakable glint in their eyes looking for a good time. And didn’t they have a great time!

As is customary with Sydney Bens events, the College flag, its striking green white and green colours with the white embossed crest adorning the centre, hung proudly backstage as a reminder of Benedictine traditions from way back. The décor was simple - white cloths on tables laid with a cluster of balloons, depicting the college colours dominating the centre of each table.

Before long our emcee for the night, another young man, Robert Almeida (sired by fine parents, Old Ben Ronnie and devoted Shepherdian Avril) got matters firmly in his grasp and had the much-looked forward to Tombola/Bingo/Housie (as the popular game is known severally) up and running.

Hyacinth Jones, the Tombola caller on the night, ran through the numbers in professional style. As she called out legs eleven, two fat ladies and top of the house ninety, she established a fine rapport with participants and the parry and thrust of their friendly exchanges added a touch of great amusement to an enjoyable session of games. The winners went away with excellent prizes donated by generous Old Bens and many well-wishing friends who prefer to be anonymous.

Then the piece de resistance – hoppers! Hoppers galore. Kumarika Misso and her bevy of helpers had a string of pans crackling away to make sure that the delightful meal was in plenty – hot, hot egg hoppers and plain hoppers with her famous Negambo Pork curry, chicken curry,  pol sambol and seeni sambol accompaniments that made many look for seconds. Wattellappan was the perfectly sweet foil as dessert, washed down with a nice cup of hot coffee.

On all counts, it was a great night, excellent value for money. As President Garrick concedes ‘it had its moments’. If the moments are anything like this, we’ll have them anytime!

No matter what, Craig Dickinson continued to keep guests on the floor until it was way, way after closing time.

Click here to view an album of photos by Doug Jones