General News
19 December, 2022
Christmas with Us back on the menu
This Christmas, a feast will bring community members together as the Carisbrook Lions Club gets ready to whip up a festive spread for their Christmas with Us event. Now in its 22nd year, the initiative was first started by a group of locals before...
This Christmas, a feast will bring community members together as the Carisbrook Lions Club gets ready to whip up a festive spread for their Christmas with Us event.
Now in its 22nd year, the initiative was first started by a group of locals before the club took over and it has gone from strength to strength since, serving all those in need — with the upcoming event taking place without any COVID restrictions for the first time since the pandemic.
“It’s very exciting. We hate anyone being home, lonely on Christmas Day, and it’s also open to families in need,” Carisbrook Lions Club president Jefferson Hoober said.
“We don’t want anyone to be sitting home on their own on Christmas, because it’s about enjoying the festive season together.”
Last year’s event, despite being underscored by COVID, was a success with around 200 attendees, and this year Mr Hoober expects the numbers to increase — potentially making it the biggest lunch to date.
“The event is looking very big and I think it will be the largest. I think COVID affected a lot of people and everything is more expensive — utilities, fuel, food, everything has gone up,” he said.
“I think people are struggling more and so we’re there to offer help and support.
“We don’t ask for money, we don’t ask for donations, we put it on as a charity event. But we’ve got a wishing well for people who want to put money, it’s there for them.”
Apart from lunch, the menu on the day will also include entertainment and gifts for everyone in attendance at the Maryborough Harness Racing Club in Carisbrook, where the event will be held.
“Everyone that comes will get a beautiful meal cooked by our Lions and our volunteers and they’ll also get some presents. There’ll be some live entertainment, to make sure everyone has fun,” Mr Hoober said.
“If we didn’t have the support [we have received], we couldn’t put on this lovely event on Christmas Day.
“IGA have jumped on board as the major sponsor, but everyone else, the trotting track, Woolworths and Coles, they jumped on board to give us a hand.
“I’m really excited and we give up our Christmas Day but we wouldn’t be anywhere else. It’s very important and it’s good to see so many happy faces.”
The Christmas with Us lunch is free for anyone who wants to attend.
The club has also organised buses that will be picking up and dropping off those without transport — with pick up starting from 10 am.
Bookings for the lunch will be open until Friday, December 23 — to book, visit Maggie’s Coffee Lounge at 141 High Street or the Visitor Information Centre at the railway station.