Community celebrates

Ceremonial event . . . Andre Meyer "crowns'' the king while Fay Baker cuts the Victoria sponge cake at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together, PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOK

Marjorie Cook

May 11, 2023

The Lake Hawea community might be dreadful singers, but they sure know how to party.

About 60 people gathered at the Lake Hawea Community Centre last Friday for a precoronation party for King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The drinks were flowing, the plates of fish paste sandwiches and Waldorf salad sandwiches were piled high, and the women were sporting a dazzling array of earrings and costume jewellery.

Pat Winton, Elizabeth Taylor, Therese Laing celebrate the coronation. at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together, Friday May 5, 2025. PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOK

Community centre committee member Colleen Carr said the community centre hosted a regular get-together on the first Friday of the month for afterwork drinks, a chat and raffles.

‘‘They are a good way for new residents to get to know the locals,’’ she said.

Not everyone was aware of the coronation theme. Some turned up in their hoodies.

‘‘Not everyone keeps a sequin hat in their car, though they could be expected to,’’ she said.

“Princesses” Isla Febery (4), Gracelyn Hall (4), Agatha Ivy Benton (3) at the Lake Hawea coronation celebration at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together, Friday May 5, 2025. PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOK

There were plenty of young princesses eyeing up cakes and playing games to wrangle into an impromptu procession for The News.

Regular attendee Neal Brown said he was loving the camaraderie of the night.

‘‘I don’t always come to this now because I have been around for 20-odd years now,’’ he said.

About 60 members of the Lake Hawea community stand to sing God Save the King at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together, PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOK

There was an informal reveal of a portrait of the King by local artist Elizabeth Munn, which was duly ‘‘crowned’’ by community centre chairman Andre Meyer, while Fay Baker(90), who many just called ‘‘Grandma’’, was given the honour of cutting the Victoria sponge cake.

After some community notices, speeches and raffle announcements, the partygoers stood for a rendition of God Save the King, which Mr Meyer pronounced ‘‘bloody awful’’.

Coronation events were also held last week for the residents of the Aspiring Enliven Care Centre and Elmslie House.