focusinterview. s o c i a l s c e n e with Kate Wood-Foye from Rydges Port Macquarie.
Right Belinda Ford, Barbara Smith, Dannielle Allison, Emma Gammack, Alana Carter.
Photo credit Brenda Sarno Photograghy
Below Aaron French, Jackie Lawlor, Shane Struthers and Graeme Lawlor at Jackie’s 40th Hawaiian B’day
Steve Harris Fab Photos
Below Jenny Sinclair & Phil Jamieson at the HeadSpace Ambassador Launch
Steve Harris Fab Photos
Left Rebecca Hickey and Vanessa Lawrence at Rydges Melb Cup
Steve Harris Fab Photos
Above Peter & Christie Christaforo at Rydges Melb Cup
So it seems that everyone is currently jet setting across the world but me … trying not to be the inevitable and slightly unpopular green eyed travel monster, but couldn’t deny the little pang (well ... massive pang, actually) of travel envy when the hus-vegas jumped on a plane for Singapore and India and well basically - I didn’t!
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he fact that he posted a decidedly excited pic at the departure gate with an huge grin on his soon to be India- bound face didn’t alleviate the green tinge to the situation. That he is really there for work is totally irrelevant … cue large sigh and continue on. The only travel I will be doing is down Pacific Drive to the office and to the exciting faraway land of Coles in Hayward St … and maybe the Thai Orchid Takeaway if I get really exotic and adventurous! The reality of the silly season is that it is literally insane with events and Christmas parties … who has time for travel! Dance is in the air, with eight extremely and understandably nervous locals pairing up and polishing their routines for this year’s Dance for Cancer. This time last year I was in a panic driven pool of sweat trying to get a handle on a seriously tricky dance number with my ever patient and possibly slightly jetlagged dance teacher, who’d literally just stepped off the plane from the USA. Happy 40th birthday and first year in Port Mac to my former dance partner, WPMPA teacher and choreographer Jason Dubock. Wishing all the brave dancers and their dedicated teachers for this year’s event the very best of luck for an amazing night of entertainment and possibly the most scary, challenging and rewarding experience of their life. The stage awaits! Who will be the
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greater port macquarie focus.
winner? Inspirational local youth organisation HeadSpace recently launched their ambassador program with a short film launch of We’ve got your Back at the Glasshouse. Julie Sinclair, Tracie Hazell and the team introduced 26 local identities as HeadSpace ambassadors and 12 Youth Ambassadors to the community - leaders from all walks of life and industries who will act as referral points for young people and families of young people who need support of any kind facilitating physical, social, emotional wellbeing in the community. Congratulations to Nicole Kosseris and the amazing team of friendly and talented professionals on a fab event and the service provided to young locals in need. If you don’t know what HeadSpace is and you have a young person aged 15 - 25 in your, life check it out … www.headspace.org.au or visit the office on Short St in Port. The door is always open; no appointments needed! Jackie Lawlor celebrated her 40th birthday with hubby Graeme at a Hawaiian party at Stoney Park in mid November - guests travelled from Sydney, Newcastle and the Gold Coast to be a part of the weekend celebrations, including Shane and Tanya Struthers, Jasmin Johansson, Danny Tate, Laslo and Danni Probst, Shae Glanville, Jessie O’Connor,
Ashley Rose Nolan, Caitlyn McCormack, Shannyn Hall, Mel Cuttell, Ngaire Stewart, Vanessa Stewart and Dean Jones, to name but a few of the friends who joined in the festivities. Sunburn, singing, water skiing, fab food and fun were all on the menu, with plenty of guests going just a fraction troppo to help celebrate the big 40! The kids got to party too, with a jumping castle and soccer all afternoon! Happy birthday Jackie! Speaking of jumping castles … funny how gatherings at our place have morphed of late ... once upon a time friends used to text before popping over. What can we bring? Bubbles? Cocktails? A nibble plate? Now, it’s a little more like this: Bubbles? Nice bottle of red? Jumping castle? Scary new thing … the jumping castle wins every time. Love it! The fun and festivity of Melbourne Cup Day literally zoomed past with a swift hoof beat, but oh what a time was had. Rachelle Dufty, Lauren Tait and the team at Sails put on a Kentucky Derby style celebration for 120 guests in the waterfront restaurant with mint juleps and Southern inspired dishes, topped off with fab fashion from the Hastings Co-op Department Store, coordinated by Vicki Carnes. Across the water 175 guests were glamming it up and drinking Spring Fling Chambord Cocktails and plenty of Riccoco bubbly at a Classic Spring
Carnival with event partners McGuigan BMW and Lawrence Built Homes. Fabulous fashion from Shanti Butterfly, City Limits, Tarocash with stunning millinery from Akubra, House of Le Dãin and Carole Watson of The Hat Room. Lots of fun captured by Matt of Pose it Photo Booths and Steve of Fab Photos. Giddy Up! Racing season is over and the silly season is here. Office parties and end of year catch ups are filling up the summer calendar with plenty of opportunities to do something ridiculous and embarrass yourself after getting yourself a bit egg-nogged on the welcome drinkies … huge tip … you still have to work with these people on Monday… Beware: there is no delete button available for festive bloopers! Wishing everyone a fabulous holiday season and some precious time with family and friends enjoying our beautiful piece of the planet. Who needs to travel OS when we live in paradise? Seriously counting our lucky stars that we are here! Happily on the fast track to the deliciousness of Christmas ham (why does it taste better than normal ham?), and seriously inappropriate helpings of king prawns and French bubbles … dare I even admit to dusting off a Mariah Carey Christmas song or two! ‘til next year ... Kate.