Lake Karrinyup Country Club was transformed on Sunday December 3rd for our annual Children’s Christmas Party.
This is the Club’s largest social event and it just keeps getting bigger every year. This year, 251 children and 350 parents, grandparents and great grandparents were treated to a morning of fun and laughter with pony rides, a bouncy castle, pavement art, a baby animal farm and many other activities keeping everyone thoroughly entertained.
The highlight was, of course, the appearance of Santa and Mrs Claus who, resplendent in their red robes, arrived at the Club in the back of a magnificent Thunderbird. Rudolph, eat your heart out.
The finale of the event is the giving of presents and it is truly wonderful seeing our dining room full to bursting with smiling children, all waiting patiently for their turn to receive a gift from Santa or Mrs Claus.
The Children’s Christmas Party is a massive undertaking with planning commencing almost a year in advance by long term stalwarts of the event such as Ainslie Cartwright and Sally Meadows. Tess Westland and Megan Convery from the administration office also worked very hard during the planning stages.
On the day of the party, Tanya Evans, our functions co-ordinator and Head Elf was her usual ball of energy, very ably supported by her Assistant Elf, Maryanne Larsen. I am sure they were both very tired little Elves by the end and slept well that night. Ben Ward and Rod John, as always, worked miracles turning our clubhouse grounds into a kid’s paradise whilst Megan Convery was absolutely everywhere during the morning.
Our course superintendent, Fraser Brown, must have been a little nervous about his manicured grass being set upon by hordes of children and an assortment of animals- but even after a hectic week of course renovation work he still found the time to set up the mini-golf and make sure the gardens were beautifully presented.
The kitchen and wait staff were brilliant, not only producing food hampers for every child but also serving 206 coffees in a three hour window and preparing food for the large number of adults at the event. Thank you to Andrew Symes and his team for a job very well done.
A large cohort of members (and their offspring) volunteered their time to look after the various activities and to serve over 250 sausages in a bun. This event could not take place without the support of these volunteers and, on behalf of our Club, I would like to express our gratitude for your contributions to the success of the morning.
A special thank you must go to Mark and Delia Giggins for performing the role of Santa and Mrs Claus so graciously. They did a terrific job making every child feel special.
The annual Children’s Christmas Party is one of the great traditions at Lake Karrinyup Country Club. There are now multiple generations of members whose children have been part of this event and from the many positive comments I received, its popularity is only growing stronger. Long may it continue.
Just a wonderful day at the Club.
Ralph Gibson
President
