AMBCQ Christmas Party: 3rd December 2010



Kiong introduces John and Catherine Mickel to the crowd



We had a rather excellent Christmas Party this year - our theme, Straits Settlements and Malayan British Colonial-Style Christmas Dinner.  In keeping with the theme, we had a combination of Malaysian and British fare, decorations that invoked the old country as well as the tropics, and our guests in an array of formal costume, with black-tie and top hats as well as batik shirts, ball gowns as well as cheong sam and kebaya.  Thank you very much to all the attendees who made an effort to look the part - you did a fantastic job!

Kiong, Heidi and Simon

Guests enjoyed champagne, wine, spirits and other refreshments under the marquee were there was plenty of catching up and relaxed conversation.  The smorgasbord of Malaysian and Bristish food including two enormous Christmas cakes, was in the 'hut' which was decorated with an oversized Indonesian mask and two Christmas trees.  The marquee was decked out with Christmas bunting, baubles, and tinsel, and we had peacock feather runners and baubles on each table.  To top off the colonial feel to the evening, we had all white tablecloths and chair covers decorated with silver sashes.  The weather even assisted with the threat of Malaysian-style sudden downpours!

Thanks must go to the following people for the invaluable help they provided:

• Lilian and Kim Chan who donated their time to cook for the event. Apart from roast pork and crackling, they provided our 50 plus guest with a delicious British, Malay, Indian, Chinese and Straits Chinese (Nyonya) feast of asam fish, chicken curry, vegetable curry, tapioca crisps, rice, sago kueh and two big lovely Christmas cakes

• Lai Peng Chan, and Aileen and Eric Williams, Lilian and Kim Chan for their assistance over several days with child minding, lawn mowing, setting up the marquee on the weekend, and the setting up on the night itself

• CH and Lyna Chen for their generous donations to the raffle on the night - including a bottle of mango wine, a bottle of champagne, and a Georg Jensen box

• Little Mae Lyn Foong for doing such a great job as a raffle ticket seller (she raised over $200 dollars)

Cr Julian Simmonds and Maddy

• Damien and Tamara Foong for also donating a hamper on the night

Thank you also to the Speaker of the Queensland Parliament the Hon John Mickel and Catherine Mickel as well as Cr Julian Simmonds for taking the time from their very busy schedules to come to our humble function.

We’d also like to thank those from outside the AMBCQ who supported the event, including Elfi Massey-Valazza and John Massey from the Australian Council for Europe and family, Grace Tan and Sam from the Singapore Business Council of Australia, and Anthony Lin and Yuen-Yuen from the Taiwanese Friendship Assoc of Qld.

The full pictures of the night have been uploaded to Facebook – I believe you can look at the pictures without having to be a member of Facebook if you click on the link below.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53947827929&v=photos#!/photo.php?fbid=476918344014&set=a.476918314014.259605.580164014

Drawing the raffle - Sim, Grace, John, Bryan and Sue in the foreground - Shona in background

    

Kathy and Rose

Kiong, John and Catherine Mickel, Ilkka (hiding) and Shona

Finally thanks to all AMBCQ members for making this such a fantastic year. To all members, friends and supporters, AMBCQ wishes you a Happy Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!

Simon, Kim, Lilian Elfi, Heidi, Lai Peng and John