A Merry Christmas to all from the Gellibrand community! Read about how we celebrated Christmas with a party at the Melbourne Showgrounds’ Victoria Pavilion.
By Phil Johnson (with Paul Mitchell)
Client Tony had put the date of the Gellibrand Christmas Party in his diary many months out from the event so he was excited to arrive with me at the venue, Melbourne Showgrounds, on Friday night. Parking was easy and, though we had to duck under an umbrella on our way into the building, the evening was mostly fine as we got set for the Christmas celebration.
Service Manager Vivian Carreira met us at the door to the Victoria Pavilion with a big Gellibrand smile and soon we were in the spacious dining room, with tables set festively and ready for clients, family, and team members to enjoy a feast, the famous raffle, mystery entertainment, and some dancing.
Customer Wellbeing Manager Margaret Given looked up our table number and off we went – Tony straightaway finding friends to chat with as he got into the spirit of the party. Once he returned to me at the table, he was thrilled to find out he was sitting next to his lifelong friend, Michael Rendina.
After Gellibrand’s Board President, Elena Ashley, made the Acknowledgment of Country and welcomed us all, Client and Commercial Operations Manager Justin Sacco told everyone the order of events for the night – and we soon discovered the mystery entertainment.
A troupe of Brazilian dancers, colourfully adorned and with giant feather headdresses, wowed us all with their high-kick routine in the Las Vegas style. Though Tony doesn’t much like to dance, he loved getting his photo taken with the dancers.
Tony also loved his meal, even taking care of some of mine that I couldn’t fit in, and though he didn’t care if he won or not, he was thrilled on behalf of others who won prizes in the famous Gellibrand Christmas raffle.
Every year the raffle gets more extensive – and our thanks go to long-time Gellibrand supporter Anne McGowan who puts so much time and effort into getting the prizes together from a host of different donors. Justin Sacco was tireless as he announced happy winner after winner, of prizes such as toasters, cooking utensils, kettles, pictures, art, chocolates, wine, spirits, and all kinds of food hampers.
Of course, being a Gellibrand Christmas Party, there were also plenty of activities for kids – and kids at heart – face painting and balloons being the highlights. I had the extra highlight of receiving a balloon crown from one festive young person and Tony got a good laugh out of that.
Santa Claus gave us the pleasure of his company and there was also a photo booth where everyone could get a snap and have it printed out on the spot – quick evidence of the fun we were having.
It was joyful to see the entire Gellibrand community happily enjoying each other’s company, chatting and laughing and celebrating together the year that has been. We remembered, also, much-loved clients who have passed away in 2024. It was wonderful to see family members of those clients at the party, catching up with Gellibrand friends and team members.
With a chocolate mousse or lemon tart in our tummies, it was time for a dance. Clients, team members, and families took the chance to move and boogie a little and, if there’s one thing the Gellibrand community loves as much as a party and party food, it’s a shimmy and a shake on the dancefloor.
The party was still going when Tony realised he’d used his full ration of Christmas energy and so we left with the music still pumping and smiles still on faces.
A big thanks to all those who contributed so much to making the Gellibrand Christmas Party 2024 a huge success, including lead event organisers Edwin Bobadilla and Margaret Given, along with Anne McGowan for organising the amazing raffle and all those who donated to it: Janiece Gagliardi, the McGowan Family, the Carey family, the Gagliardi family, Rivervue Community, Julie Heskett, Lorraine McKeon, Anne Ricardo, Carolyn Morgan, Colleen Wittmer, Androula Dawson, Michael Gould, Margaret Given, and Vivian Carreira. Thanks also to all team members who provided supports on the night and all our hard-working managers.
