I have spent it watching one much loved 80 year old celebrate her birthday with family and friends. You could not get the smile off her face. Her greatest present was to have her family and friends around her and in numbers to be reckoned with.
On Saturday night 96 sat down to a formal dinner at her local RSL club. There is something very special to be in a room full of happy people all talking and reconnecting after years apart. It was a birthday party but underneath it was also a huge family reunion. This formal event was hosted by her daughter who made finger food for before the dinner and lovely little chocolate coated nibbles to be served with the birthday cake, which she also cooked, for dessert.
On Sunday it was open house all day out at the property. Once again they came in force! When we arrived, the back paddock had over 20 cars parked and I found more when I went around the front of the homestead. At times it was standing room only inside as we all paid homage to the birthday girl who sat surrounded by her family and friends in her own home with a smile from ear to ear.
And food......
When we arrived morning tea was being served, it was followed by a casserole lunch and then came afternoon tea and as we were leaving late in the afternoon I heard mention of what was on the menu for the evening meal. Once again this was all organised and mostly cooked by her daughter. The urn ran hot all day and someone had to have ended up with dish pan hands from washing all those cups and mugs to keep up with the demand. Outside the men chatted as they do about crops and sheep and heaven knows what, while inside we were admiring her 92 year old brother's Order of Australia Medal (OAM) which he received in this years honours list, What a pretty medal and what an honour to meet the recipient of such a prestigious award.
The birthday girls husband also did his bit and played tour guide, taking groups of visitors through the paddocks to the property at the back of his place to visit Christ the King Chapel. Out there nearly 50 km from town, one man has built a beautiful chapel in the middle of his place that is open to any and all who care to visit it.
A big weekend and it could not have happened without an awful lot of organisation and I take my hat off to her husband, daughter, grandson and his partner for all their hard work. I am sure everyone had a good time and will remember this one for a long long time. Well done everyone.
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