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
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.
People page High tea . . . June Champion (8) of Lake Hawea holds the sandwich plate at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together. PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOKLooking to win . . . Dick Cotter buys a raffle ticket at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOKColleen Carr, Barbara McKenzie and Florence Chow at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOKPeople Page – from left Wilma Spence and Frances Renfree at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together, F. PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOKPeople Page – from left Ron Winton, Richard Spence, Trevor Laing at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together, PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOKPeople Page – from left Susan Prattley and Elizabeth Munn at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together, . PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOKRegal art . . . Elizabeth Munn (centre) with Colleen Carr (left) and Dick Cotter (right. Elizabeth painted a portrait of King Charles III specially for the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together, PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOKSense of occasion . . . Andre Meyer “crowns ” a portrait of King Charles III painted by Elizabeth Munn specially for the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together, PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOKPeople Page – from left Dave Prattley and Neal Brown at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together,PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOKPat Winton, Elizabeth Taylor, Therese Laing celebrate the coronation. at the Lake Hawea pre-coronation community get together, . PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOK“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. PHOTOS: MARJORIE COOKAbout 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