Trust spreads cheer and friendship for Over 70s

GOOD TIMES: Gwenda Bambry (left) enjoys a meal with friends. PHOTOS/LYNDA FERINGA.

For more than 25 years the annual Over 70s dinner has been bringing the Christmas spirit to Wairarapa.

The oldest and wisest members of society celebrated Christmas at the annual Masterton Licensing Charitable Trust Over 70s Christmas Dinner on Wednesday.

More than 500 people packed Copthorne Solway Park in Masterton to enjoy some traditional fare and catch up with friends.

Trust House chairman Brian Bourke said it was held as a gesture to the older members of the community.

"It's for people who are over 70 who contribute so much in their lifetime, we like to think we are giving back."

He said it wasn't just about eating the meal and many had been coming for years.

"They come for the company, they see people they haven't seen for a long time, the meal is sort of ancillary to that."

Lansdowne Court resident Marian Trass has been attending the dinner for more than a decade. "It must be 11 years I've been coming."

Bonnie Dean said she comes to the dinner to enjoy herself and to try and catch up with friends.

She's been coming for around 20 years and said this year's dinner was excellent. "The food is beautiful, though there's far too much."

The crowds were entertained by singer Tess O'Hara and volunteers worked hard to serve 550 meals. The trust also spread the Christmas cheer throughout the region, running Over 70s dinners in Feilding, Flaxmere and Rimutaka outlets.