The bright smiles and amazing colour of the Jade entertainment showgirls brought the room alive this year
On Sunday the 8th of December, Twin Parks was filled with festive zeal when we celebrated our 14th Residents’ Christmas party. This party is a special annual event for residents, their families and Twin Parks staff where we both celebrate the spirit of the season and acknowledge our achievements and milestones for the year.
The event is always a big production involving weeks of planning and preparation before hand. With 140 guests expected this year (up from 120 last year) and many of our 120 residents, as well as staff, choosing to attend, the numbers were expected to reach close to 300 people. With a facility to run as well, the tension and excitement leading up to the day was high. However once the day arrived, any worries turned to joys, as this year’s event turned out to be a roaring success. Many residents and staff were heard to say that it was one of the smoothest and most enjoyable parties to date.
The residents don’t only sit and watch, but are eager and encouraged to join in. The first performance of the day involved the resident’s choir, who, with an average age of 91 years, led a rousing sing-along of Aussie Jingle Bells and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. Throughout the afternoon a number of residents were up and dancing and many joined in by singing along to their Christmas favourites.
Brendan Scott entertains the residents and families while young fans run wild.
Joining us again this year as MC and main entertainer was the incomparable Brendan Scott. He has been a fixture at our Christmas Party for well over a decade and yet continues to sound fresh and dazzle residents and family alike with his wonderful vocal and instrumental performances swapping between, guitar, violin, sax, keyboards and banjo. He had us singing, dancing and smiling all afternoon.
Every year we try to feature a traditional cultural performance from one of the many diverse communities that make up multicultural Melbourne. This year we had Greek dancing from the island of Lesbos.
Greek Dance Troupe wow the crowd with traditional dances from the Island of Lesbos
The amazing festive buffet created by Twin Park’s kitchen saw guests returning for more.
A definite highlight of the afternoon was the Jade entertainment showgirls who brought the room alive with a dazzling display of colour and movement, transporting us from Melbourne to Carnival in Rio during their 10 minute performance. The 3 dancers involved residents and guests, inviting them to dance, with one cheeky resident plucking a few feathers as a prized memento.
The event may prove to be a hard act to follow next year, but after seeing the joy in our resident’s and their families’ eyes, it is a challenge we are more than happy to take up.
Wishing you a wonderful and heart warming Christmas and a bright and happy New Year, from Twin Parks.
The annual parade of the animals inviting residents and guests to join in with the Chicken Dance