2024 Melbourne Cup Festivities

MELBOURNE CUP FESTIVITIES 2024

Our Melbourne Cup / Flat Oaks Trophy function was well attended.  The hall and tables were beautifully decorated, the food was wonderful and there was plenty of it, with a selection of mouth-watering desserts. 

Bill Gillespie, as emcee, kept everyone to time and did a terrific job commentating on the Flat Oaks Cup.  Liam Farrell gave us an insight into the costs of entering a horse into the Melbourne Cup, which was enlightening to many.

Julie Drysdale supervised the catering tables ready for lunch.  After lunch Jenny Garnett and Kim Lynch kicked off proceedings with the Lucky Door Prizes.

Vicki Cocksedge and Sue Moran had the difficult task of choosing the winners for Fashions on the Field and Best Hats.  Meanwhile, Barbara Street judged the Best Brooch and the Men’s Crazy Socks. 

Winners

Fashions on the Field:  Pushpa Carroll, Joan Fell and Sue Vorobieff

Best Hats:  Joanne Griffiths and Lyn Thong

Best Brooch:  Merrilee Gorman, Jane Labriola and Heddy Stern

Crazy Socks:  Liam Farrell, Graham Hick and Phil Prentice

Then it was time for the Flat Oaks Trophy heats and final.  

With shouts of encouragement from the spectators it was a closely fought final with Bill Gillespie coming in first, Liam Farrell second, Kim Lynch third and Dawn Gilmore in fourth place. 

Working very hard in the background finalising the sweeps were Joanne Griffiths and Janet Weekes, with assistance from Sue Moran and Stephanie McCarron.

Special thanks must go to all the volunteers who helped set up the hall, particularly the men who did the heavy lifting W Bourne, B Castray and D Meyer. 

It was a very pleasant afternoon despite the technical difficulty with internet traffic affecting the video signal.  It was lovely to see so many people dress up for the occasion and put in that extra effort.  Many members commented that they had a wonderful afternoon and enjoyed socialising with their friends and meeting some of the newer members of Shellharbour City U3A.   

Check out some of our fabulous Fashions ...