Hi Foxy,

Thanks for the heads up, all is helpful. Our Coordinator is a go-go person, and she has some good contact/deals, like 20kg mince from a friendly butcher for $200. With a days notice he'll knock it up, its 3 star but good stuff. We have a lot of use for mince and chicken, what would the poor do without the humble chook. We also work well with 'SecondBite' here in Brisbane, a charities charity. We appreciate everything we get including from the big supermarkets in our local area. Its scandalous what food the shops have to throw out, bread is a shocker, at one time up to 1/3 of bread went to waste, after it was no longer allowed as pigs swill. Ozhavest and Foodbank to name another two who do a terrific job with food rescue.

p/s A sign of the times, we have over 100 people signed up for Mondays Xmas lunch, up from 70 last year. Will cater 120.

Glad to help Paul and Congratulations on doing such
a great job. There's other recipes on the web -
including ones from famous chefs like Poh and
of course Gordon Ramsay.

Thanks Foxy, but its all a community effort, and there are those like Richo who do far more than me. Our ' Xmas Twilight Market' was a success last evening as far as I can tell, with a good roll up from the locals. "Te" runs the Xmas Stall (donated decorations, Xmas bric a brac etc) Its run with a difference, the buyer determines the price/donation. Take what you like, and make a donation to the big 'Santa Cookie Jar', it works well, people generally donate more than you might expect them to pay if you priced the items. Have lots of other stalls as well, plants, books, cakes, knitted things, jewellery BBQ, etc etc. We also have "commercial" sellers who are charge a site fee. Got to thank the local pollies, council and state, for their support with things like gazebos, we have lots of tables and chairs and parking which is a bonus.

Dear Paul,
we are so lucky as a country to have such fabulous
volunteers who work so hard
in our communities. They're absolute angels. You
and your wife included.

God Bless you, everyone!

I've sent out all my cards. Including donations to
charities - to help out.

Hi again Foxy,

We have a very innovative group, that's what I like. Our next project is "Xmas Tree" in the hall. An individual or group decorates a Xmas tree, you can supply your own tree, of any sorts, but of reasonable size, we do have a few trees if you don't have one, supply your own decorations. Then you decorate your tree to your hearts content, we have power for lights etc. Folks pay a gold coin donation at the door to come in and view the "spectacular" (the hall is also decorated). On entering you receive a voting token, which you place in the "ballot" box in front of your tree of choice. The tree with the most votes wins the donated Xmas Hamper on Carols Night we have second (donated $50 dinner voucher) and third (donated wine and chocs) prizes as well, and I believe a box of chocs for all the other great efforts. We have a door roster for night time viewing. "Te" and two of her friends are entering a tree, their theme is "rainbows" I think, not sure. Tip, those who create an interactive tree always have an advantage.

p/s Guess where we get a lot of our Xmas stuff to sell at next years Xmas market, most people donate their tree after the competition. One of the local real estate's did a fantastic tree last year, outstanding but they only ran second, to a local primary school class, me thinks their mums and dads voted for their tree.