Christmas lunch
strikes a chord
Cooking up a storm for our community
Community spirit and sharing the joy of Christmas are important to Hugh Gordon.
Feeding a thousand people on Christmas Day
is quite an achievement.
For the past five years, Jonathan Heath has done just that.
Each year, he grabs his guitar and thrills crowds with live performances at Samaritans Christmas lunches in Newcastle.
The South African-born chef spends countless hours preparing food for Samaritans Christmas lunches in Newcastle.
“I first started doing it in the late 1990s in Civic Park. A couple of years later, Samaritans came on board and I’ve been involved ever since then,” Hugh says.
Jonathan says he always wanted to give back to the community. “I started doing work for abused women and children shelters in Newcastle. I’d cook up big Sunday roasts or Christmas lunches and drop them off,” he says. “I feel very privileged for what I do have, and I wanted to give back on a larger scale.” Jonathan decided to volunteer with Samaritans after contacting Christmas Lunch in the Park Event Manager Dana Pichaloff.
I feel very privileged for what I do have, and I
wanted to give back on a larger scale.
In the week leading up to Christmas, Jonathan and a team of helpers cook the food in a kitchen at PCYC Windale. It is then packaged and transported to Newcastle, where a group of volunteers serve it on the day. Jonathan says it is inspiring to see the community work together to feed so many people in need. “The first year I did it out of one of the kitchens I was working in at the time, and I had an entire keg room full of takeaway containers.
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Encounter Christmas 2023
TALENTED CHEF JONATHAN HEATH FROM WS CATERING.
I think I had about 3,500 containers full of food,” he says. “I’m super appreciative of all the relationships I’ve built with my suppliers in the 11 years that I’ve been in Australia. No one is ever shy to donate, which is great. “We’re able to feed about 1,000 people with donated food. It just shows how people can band together. It’s cool.”
“Playing and sharing music on Christmas Day is just a wonderful thing to do, so I’ve always prioritised it.” A Student Music Coordinator at the University of Newcastle, Hugh connects with fellow performers in the lead-up to Christmas Day to prepare their repertoire and rehearse some of the carols. They then set up the sound system and conduct checks to ensure everything is ready to go ahead of the event. Hugh says interacting with the audience on
Jonathan previously worked at renowned restaurants around the Hunter Valley vineyards and in Newcastle before starting his own business, WS Catering. Despite juggling a heavy workload and a young family, he didn’t hesitate to offer his services for Christmas once again. “It’s amazing to see people who have so little, be grateful for so little. It is heartbreaking actually,” he says. “I see kids sitting on Santa’s lap getting one present and being absolutely over the moon. “Then I go home and look at my kids rip through presents. It really puts things into perspective about how lucky I am as a parent, and we are as a family. That’s why I got into it.”
MUSICIAN HUGH GORDON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE.
Christmas Day and feeling their energy creates a special atmosphere. “I usually get people up to sing and play the tambourine. It’s a sharing day. Live performing is as much about the audience participation – it all adds to the music,” he says. “In the early 2000s, I had my own little kids so it was special for them to be involved. When they got a bit older, they’d get up and sing with me. We’ve also had a range of performers, including people who have been on [reality TV show] The Voice. “Last year was great as well. We had three girls from the university who got up and sang.” Hugh considers himself fortunate to have been involved in the Christmas lunches and plans to continue for as long as possible. “Every year has its special moments and I think that’s why you keep coming back because there’s always something special that happens,” he says. “It’s a real honour to be a part of it.”
Watch Hugh’s Performance at the Christmas Lunch
