Gold Coast Community Christmas Lunch

09/09/2025

Well... the time has come. After 17 years of leading The Gold Coast Community Christmas Lunch - Cam Christie and I have handed over the reins.

From welcoming 280 guests in year 1 to over 1500 in years 16 & 17, it was time. It has become too big to be handled by a purely volunteer team.

The good folk at Serving Our People will be looking after things from now on. They are a well resourced Gold Coast based organisation with a stable team, great community support and already providing important resources to the Gold Coast community.

Cam and I would like to thank every single person who has supported our efforts over the years. Whether it was a donation, words of encouragement or volunteering with us. Thankyou. It was always a team effort.

Christmas can either be a time of great joy or a time of great sadness for people. Our aim was always to ensure that - No Gold Coaster spends Christmas Day alone and that no Gold Coast kid goes without a visit from Santa.

To the thousands of guests that we have served, hugged, shared a tear a laugh or a dance with. We hope that you remember your Christmas Days with us with love and fond memories.

We hope that we took a bit pressure off parents for the Christmas season.
To the otherwise lonely people who joined us, we hope that you enjoyed great meals, company and joy.

I know that singling people out is dangerous - but in the early years we could not have continued without Jason Marshall, Louise McGregor , Robyn Henderson Fruginet and Julia Horan.

Then as we grew our team expanded and our deepest love, respect and thanks go to Keely Blest, Wendy Coe, Suzanne Bawden, Noonan , Roberson , Jessica Winters, Parker Parker Bayleigh Woods-Roberson, Byron Cracknell, Jennepher Durward, Barbara Blest, Ley and Ley Tate Elisabeth Keane

To Sam O'Connor MP and Cr Joe Wilkinson. Your ongoing encouragement and support over many years has been nothing short of inspiring. The depth of commitment to your community is unmatched. Thankyou.

We know that Serving Our People will enjoy the fabulous level of support that we have over the coming years and keep the legacy going.

Big love and thanks from this Mum and Son team who had no idea what they were creating 17 years ago! We have beautiful memories to last a lifetime.

Susie Longman and Cam Christie
XX

28/07/2025

Police are appealing for public help to locate a young girl reported missing on the Gold Coast. The 11-year-old was last seen at an address on Nerang Broadbeach Rd in Carrara at around 3pm on Saturday. She was later sighted in the Palm Beach area around 9.30pm. The girl is described as Caucasian, ap...

28/07/2025

Growing up in an orphanage and juvenile detention, Gregory Smith felt unwanted by society.

"There were a series of unfortunate events that led to me living on a lava rock in a rainforest when I was a middle-aged man."

Now, years after spending a decade alone in the Goonengerry National Park in northern NSW, he dedicates his life to working in the homelessness sector. To read Gregory's story, click here: https://ow.ly/4ENa50Wus0W

And to explore how Australians are dealing with the consequences of lost family and friends, watch Insight episode Gone Missing on SBS On Demand.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, phone 1800 RESPECT. For counselling, advice and support for men who have anger, relationship or parenting issues, call the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. For addiction support, contact National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline (1800 250 015).

23/05/2025

Ghandi said that to truly find yourself, you should lose yourself in the service of others.
So this Volunteers Week we want to say a big loving thankyou to every volunteer that has helped us in big and small ways over the past 17 years xx

30/12/2024

🎉 Facebook recognized us as a top rising creator this week!
We don't know what that means - but Yay for us !!

26/12/2024

25/12/2024

🎄 From families doing it tough and people who would otherwise be spending Christmas alone to sports stars, the Gold Coast Community Christmas Lunch was an epicentre of festive cheer 👉 https://bit.ly/3Pf0cdT

25/12/2024

What an incredible day we’ve had!
We feel grateful to have shared such an amazing day with all of our guests, to have had such generous, hard working and kind volunteers, and to have had the amazing support of all of our community partners through the donation of gifts, food, entertainment and every single little thing to make this day possible.
Merry Christmas from all of the Gold Coast Community Christmas Lunch Team 🎄🎅🏼❤️

24/12/2024

If you are a guest wanting transport today, please call 0413 393 098.
The lunch is being held from 11:00am-2:00pm at Labrador School Community Hall, Imperial Pde, Labrador.

24/12/2024

And that’s a wrap…for all the present wrapping and food prep! What an amazing team of volunteers we had today dedicating their time to wrap hundreds of presents and preparing a delicious Christmas dinner to feed over 1,500 guests tomorrow!
It will be busy, it will be festive, it will be special, and oh, it will definitely be worth it! Bring on the Gold Coast Community Christmas Lunch 2024!

24/12/2024

How good are our amazing volunteers?!? We have over 60 here at the Community Hall wrapping presents and starting to set up for the big day tomorrow, and another dozen volunteers at The Club at Parkwood Village who have kindly leant us their kitchen to help prepare all the food for over 1,500 guests tomorrow.

23/12/2024

Love it...