Serving festive food and friendship

TWO-thousand-and-nineteen marks twenty-nine years of Our Lady Help of Christians’ Christmas Day Lunch in Wendouree.

From 12pm to 2pm, anyone is welcome to share the good food and friendship on offer, whether they’re on their own, in a couple, or a family who may be separated from their relatives.

Sandra Dillon is one of the lunch’s coordinators, with a team of around 30 volunteers on the day from within the parish and wider Ballarat. She said the event has grown over three decades.

“We felt that there was probably a need, and an opportunity there to provide a space on Christmas Day for people who, maybe for some reason or other, are not able to catch up with family members or friends through distance or other reasons,” she said.

“It’s a space where people can come and just enjoy the atmosphere, a Christmas lunch, without any responsibility.

“The day is very enjoyable, and it has its own atmosphere of everybody willing to make the day a lovely time. In the last few years we’ve had about 140 to 150 volunteers and guests in total.”

Bookings for the OLHC Christmas Day Lunch are essential via 0419 975 914. Find the OLHC Parish Hall at 482 Gillies Street, Wendouree.

But Wendouree isn’t the only place one can find a lunch or dinner if they need it on 25 December.

Uniting Ballarat BreezeWay Christmas lunch will begin at 12pm at 105 Dana Street. Those interested should register their name at the Uniting office as soon as possible.

The Anglicare Christmas dinner at 49 Lydiard Street South, will be in the same hall as the Breakfast Program. Running from 6pm-8.30pm, those interested need to register their name at the Anglicare Victoria Ballarat office, at 14 Victoria Street, or at the Diocesan Centre, 49 Lydiard Street South.

The Soup Bus will be in its usual spot out the front of Camerons on Armstrong Street South from 7.30pm to 9pm.