The Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre was once again proud to host the Hervey Bay RSL Community Christmas Day Lunch, welcoming community members into the hall at the Community Centre for a warm and inclusive celebration.

This year, 120 community members registered to attend, with 84 Christmas meals served on the day. The festive menu was a true highlight, featuring glazed ham and roast pork accompanied by garden and cold salads. Guests also enjoyed cheese and cracker platters, confectionery on the tables, and a delicious selection of desserts including traditional Christmas pudding, bread and butter pudding with custard, and ice-cream with flavouring.

Adding to the joyful atmosphere, local musician John Vea Vea generously volunteered his time to provide live entertainment, creating a welcoming and uplifting environment for all who attended.

Feedback from guests was overwhelmingly positive, with many describing it as the best Christmas meal they had ever had. Several attendees shared how meaningful it was to spend Christmas Day surrounded by others rather than being home alone, reinforcing the importance of community connection during the holiday season.

To make the day extra special, all guests received a lolly and chocolate bag from Santa, made possible through generous community donations.

HBNC would also like to acknowledge and celebrate Leanne, one of our long-time and dedicated volunteers, who was recently nominated for Citizen of the Year. Leanne has been an integral part of our Comfort Kitchen volunteer team for many years, consistently giving her time, care, and compassion to support those in our community. Her nomination is a well-deserved recognition of her ongoing commitment and service.

HBNC extends a heartfelt thank you to the 22 dedicated volunteers who collectively contributed 145 hours across Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Their commitment and generosity ensured the meals were prepared, served, and shared with care and kindness.

A special thank you is also extended to the Hervey Bay RSL, whose donation of funds made it possible for this much-loved community event to run again this year.

Events like the Community Christmas Day Lunch highlight the power of collaboration, compassion, and community spirit—values at the heart of the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre.