Ros and team show Christmas Day compassion with free lunch

SMALL towns and their communities often rally around locals in times of need, and Ballan will next week showcase just how generous and caring it can be.

Zest cafe owner and local identity Ros Gatt will on Christmas Day host a free lunch for people who would otherwise be alone on 25 December, with locals, organisations and employees jumping on board to make what can be a lonely day a little better for some.

The Community Christmas Lunch, the first of its kind in the township, will take place from 12pm at the Inglis Street cafe for a maximum of 50 people – and given the response, Ms Gatt believes it could become an annual event.

“It’s definitely created a buzz,” she said.

“The hits on our social media and the sharing, I think we got more hits than what we’ve got population. Like over 4000, and the comments were just flooding in.

“People that have come into the cafe, a lot have approached us and said how wonderful it is.

“And the people who have registered, they’re super excited about not being alone.”

Ms Gatt was motivated to do something for others primarily because of personal sorrow.

“I lost my mum on Christmas Day two years ago, so it’s a very hard day when that occurs,” she said.

“It’s been just my mum, my hubby (Paul) and myself for Christmas Day for many, many years – the kids are grown and have flown the nest.

“Last year Paul and I struggled to fill that void; we did all sorts of things but it didn’t quite happen for us, so to put this on is as much about Paul and I finding our new normal for Christmas Day as it is about everybody else being alone on Christmas Day.”

The lunch will feature turkey, ham, baked potatoes, carrots and peas, bread rolls, and pavlova and mini puddings for dessert.

Drinks will include beer, wine, soft drinks and possibly a non-alcoholic punch, with musical entertainment also provided.

A small team of about 10 people, including cafe staff, will work on the day. Participants need to turn up at 11.30am for a 12pm start.

Ms Gatt has attracted $500 in funding from each of the Ballan and District Community Bank and the Ballan and District Chamber of Commerce to help pay for the cost of food and other items, and locals have been quick to donate small gifts for distribution on the day.

“They’re rolling in everywhere,” Ms Gatt said. “They’re very generous, our community.”

Donations will be made up into hampers, with each lunch participant receiving 10 raffle tickets to be entered into a draw for the hamper or hampers of their choice.

Completing the preparations, local business Sam’s Christmas Trees has donated a tree for the event and a local woman donated decorations for it.

The cafe’s Facebook page is at facebook.com/zestlicensedcafe and its Instagram profile can be found at instagram.com/zestcafeballan.