SHIPPING Australia New South Wales Committee’s annual Christmas luncheon was, not surprisingly, a bash to remember.
Held on a gloriously sunny Sydney day at Doltone House Darling Island, it was an afternoon of delicious food, good conversation and, of course, drinks.
The formal proceedings were kept short, with SAL CEO Rod Nairn giving an address on the main topics of the day. He assailed changes to the Biosecurity Imports Levy, registering his disapproval of recently announced plans to collect the levy from shipowners and operators.
NSW Ports’ chairman Paul McClintock also gave an address, speaking about various developments at Port Botany and Port Kembla.
The Mission to Seafarers brought along several seafarers whose ship was in port, all seeming to enjoy the proceedings.
As luncheon lunchers tucked into their main courses, the surprise entertainer was revealed: Vince Sorrenti (from Punchbowl). He ran through a routine that was very Sydney-centric. Many of his quips were at the expense of Sydney suburbs and their inhabitants, hitting most of them, from the Shire to the Northern Beaches, and all the way out to Parramatta.
As the luncheon wound down, lunchers dispersed to various pubs in Pyrmont and beyond.
Click here to view images from the event
