Our past Events
EVENTS IN 2024
Annual Christmas Spectacular Luncheon – 5 December 2024 – in Strangers’ Room at the NSW Parliament House
What a spectacular Christmas celebration it was.. Donna Lee had everyone enthralled as well as singing along, and Doris Day! Good choice, and John Martin was fabulous as ever. The young St Mary’s training choir was a treat, and got everyone engaged in the Christmas spirit from the get go.
Please Click Here to see the photos from the event.
Many thanks to all our supporters for joining us, and a huge thank you to all our Sponsors for your generous donations and promoting our cause: Sydney Opera House, Noonan’s Pearls and Gems, Berrima Bakehouse Motel, Bangarra Dance Theatre, 2MBS FM Fine Music, Cremorne Orpheum, Tamburlaine organic wines and Lindt Chocolates
Wishing everyone a fabulous Christmas and a peaceful 2025.
Opera Bites at the Opera House – 27 September 2024 – Luncheon in the Yallamundi Rooms, at the Sydney Opera House
What a fabulous afternoon of entertainment. We all welcomed our joint patrons Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales and Mr Denis Wilson. A wonderful performance by Opera Bites followed. With “bites” from Carmen, The Barber of Seville and La Traviata and many others. All this coupled with a delicious luncheon catered by Trippas White Group who also donated the voucher for the silent auction.
There was a great atmosphere in the room with lots of chat and catchups with old friends. All the while being entranced by the amazing backdrop of Sydney Harbour as well as the occasional (very large) cruise ship slipping by.
Please Click Here to see photos from the event.
Many thanks to all of our amazing sponsors. Their contributions to both the raffles and silent auction prizes contributed to another successful fundraising event. Please remember these businesses when you need any like product: Lindt Chocolates, The Mercantile Hotel, Sydney Opera House and Cooper Black; as well as 2MBS FM Fine Music, Pinchgut Opera and Opera Bites, for helping us promote the event.
Intrigue, skullduggery … corruption … Kate McClymont – 10 July 2024 – High Tea at the Strangers Room, NSW Parliament House
Another sell-out event at the delightful Stranger’s Room.
What a wonderful talk by Kate McClymont, SMH Chief Investigative Journalist – winner of 10 Walkley Awards. Kate is extraordinary and such an entertaining speaker.
Leisl Tesch AM, BSc, MP was our host and gave a delightful chat.
Michael Hope, pianist extraordinaire, played delightfully.
NSW Parliament House caterers and staff were wonderful. It is always a fun High Tea and we had lots of savoury and wonderful performance on delivery. Thank you Binny, Ravi, Vanessa, the Executive Chef, and Mike, the Sous Chef and all the staff.
Thank you to all our supporters for coming to the event. Welcome to all the new people who came – we hope to see you at the next event.
A big thank you to our wonderful sponsors & friends for providing us with an amazing array of prizes: Sydney Opera House, Noonans Pearls & Gems, Taronga Zoo, The Emerald Room, Ms.Armstrong
Please Click Here to see photos from the event.
Photo right is Kate doing the Pink Panther walk. You had to be there to understand – a lot of fun.
Together At Last Valda Wilson & Simon Ward Luncheon – 25 May 2024, Castlereagh Boutique Hotel
The SELL OUT event at the beautiful Cellos room was filled with ambience and breathtaking performance by Australian Soprano Valda Wilson with Simon Ward, accompanied by Brad Gilchrist.
Thanks always to all our supporters and friends for accompanying us this special event.
For those who missed out on Valda, she’s in Sydney principally to perform with Pinchgut Opera – Dido & Aenaes, so please check it out!
Please Click Here for the photos from the luncheon
Many thanks for all our amazing sponsors on the day, without their help and support we would not have any raffles or silent auction items. Please remember these businesses when you need any like product: Pinchgut Opera, Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, Sydney Opera House, Noonan’s Pearls and Gems, Dymocks Literary Luncheon as well as 2MBS FM Fine Music, Tamburlaine Wines and Lindt Chocolates
Pymble Players 14 March 2024 – The White Sheep of the Family
Thanks to the many of you who supported us and came along to our first fund raising event of the year – “The White Sheep of the Family”.
It was a lot of fun. Pymble Players always put on a very good show and they did not let us down with this work.
It’s so refreshing to see and meet the new actors young and old, and re-meet those that we know already.
We thank Pymble Players for their ongoing support – you can, of course, go directly to their web site to see if other plays interest you:
https://pymbleplayers.com.au
Please Click Here for the photos from the evening.
Thanks as always to our wonderful sponsors on the night Tambulaine Organic Wines and Lindt Chocolates.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank our wonderful new sponsor 2MBS FM Fine Music who will be promoting all our events this year
Events IN 2023
Annual Christmas Lunch Friday 8th December 2023 – NSW Parliament House, Strangers Dining Room
The Strangers’ is such a beautiful room with a glorious view out over the Domain to the Art Gallery. On Friday there was a special ambience around the room, with lots of chat going on and friendships being made and rekindled. Everyone dressed in their Christmas colours and happy to be in the air-conditioned comfort on such a hot hot day.
Nancye Hayes was spectacular. She has led such an amazing life and has such a great sense of fun and humour. Her “friends” Tony Sheldon and Michael Tyack tried to steal the show but it was hers for the keeping.
The random guest who was called on to audition for the choir was none other than “our” James Martin. His rendition of Stille Nacht will remain a special lasting memory of a highly successful and joyful event. James is an operatic baritone presently living overseas who regularly returns at Christmas time to visit his parents, Judi (a member of our SOHLC) and Warren Martin. This is the second Christmas that James has entranced us with his beautiful singing of much-loved Christmas music.
Please click here to see photos of the day.
Just for fun – you can also click here to see some videos
Once again – so many thanks to our many wonderful sponsors for providing such an array of amazing prizes as well as the wine we enjoyed and the chocolates we ate. Please remember all these wonderful businesses when you have a need for some of their products.
Lindt Chocolates, Akasha Brewing Co, Noonan’s Pearls and Gems, Sydney Opera House, Dymocks Literary Luncheon, Berrima Bakehouse Motel, Cremorne Orpheum, Hayes Theatre Company and Tamburlaine Organic Wine
Tuesday 19 September 2023 – 50th birthday celebration plus our 66th year of fundraising – Yallamundi Rooms Sydney Opera House.
It was such a wonderful event and so close to a SELL OUT. The food was delicious and the company and ambience so special. The room is also amazing with that spectacular view. Of course, who will ever forget that Voice! From Toreador to the beautiful Maori lullaby via Botany Bay and Gundagai, Teddy Tahu Rhodes lead us down a beautiful path! And Guy Noble’s ditty to the Sydney Opera House Ladies Committee deserves recording!!
We should not let it be forgotten, as Carolyn so aptly put it, that we sang at the Sydney Opera House with Teddy Tahu Rhodes to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Opera House.
Please click here to see the photos of the day
As always – so many thanks to our amazing sponsors for providing such amazing prizes and options for the Raffles and Silent Auctions.
Sydney Opera House, Ross Garden Tours Jacaranda Cruise, Lindt Chocolates, Trippas White Group, Accomodation Taronga Zoo, Akasha Brewing Co, Noonan’s Pearls and Gems, Douglas Pereira and The Australian Ballet
Friday 14 July 2023 – Bastille Day Luncheon – Women’s Club, Level 4, 179 Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Ooh la la – what a wonderful luncheon. Everyone resplendent in red, white and blue. Lots of berets, lots of stripes, some beautiful scarves and blazers and just a subtle tinge of perfume.
Not to mention the ambience and chat around the room. On top of that the food was delicious.
Simon Kenway and Tanith Bryce provided wonderful entertainment, and who could forget the Les Miserables sing-along. a Fabulous day
Please click here to see photos of the day
Many thanks to our amazing sponsors and generous supporters for helping provide such a varied array of prizes for our Raffles and Silent Auctions. Including:-
Frenchy’s Cafe and the Sydney Opera House
Coronation and Mothers Day Lunch 2023 at the Womens Club.
The food was delicious, the entertainment was charming and as well John provided us with costumes to dress up.
It was a fun day. You can see the photos here.
Once again we couldn’t do this without the generosity of our wonderful supporters and sponsors, including
Pymble Players 2023
Once again, a wonderful play at the Pymble Players. “Things I Know to Be True” was an outstanding Australian play that left the audience thinking. The acting was top.
Sparkling wine on arrive and an enjoyable supper at interval made the evening. The actors were very generous talking to the audience after the event about their acting and background.
Photos can be seen at this link.
St Patrick’s Day 2023 at the Royal Automobile Club in Macquarie Street.
There was such beautiful ambience on arrival with music performed by Bob McInnes and Rhonda Langford OAM. Followed by some wonderful Irish Dancing.
Throughout the gorgeous Victoria Room, there was more than a splash of green , with most guests sporting their finest greens.
Please click here to see some photos from the day, and please click here to see a video of the dance
Many thanks to our amazing sponsors and generous supporters for helping provide such a varied array of prizes for our Raffles and Silent Auctions. Including:-
Events IN 2022
Annual Christmas Luncheon – 1st December 2022
What a wonderful lunch was had by all. It was an absolute treat to enter the room to the sound of a lovely selection of Christmas and other music, courtesy of our own Janet Bagnall.
Simon Kenway, Rob McDougall and Dr Narelle Yeo lifted our spirits with beautiful songs to kick off our lunch and led us in Christmas carols at the end
Ronn Kahn – provided us with much food for thought of wastage and need right here in our own city.
Please click here to see some photos of the day
Many thanks to our amazing sponsors for their assistance with prizes, raffles and and Silent Auction items
Akasha Brewing, Cremorne Orpheum, Dymocks Literary Events Club, Harvey Norman, Lindt Chocolates, Moët & Chandon, Sydney Opera House, Shane Tiernan for Rimrock retreat Palm Beach, Rosemary Noonan for the freshwater pearl necklace and earrings and Razorhurst Walking Tour
Faulty Towers Dining Experience – Castlereagh Boutique Hotel – 23rd September 2022
A magic night of frivolity with a touch of the ridiculous, as we remembered all the episodes of the original shows condensed into a single night of fun.
Coupled with wonderful food – at the beautiful Cellos restaurant. It was an enjoyable evening for all
Please click here to see lots more photos of this memorable dinner
Many thanks to our wonderful sponsors Lindt Chocolates for their generosity with the prizes
Lunch with Mr Darcy – Yallamundi Rooms, SOH – 14th July 2022
We dived into the delicious literature of Jane Austen with a playlet about Elizabeth and Darcy by Penny Gay. A wonderful cast directed by Aarne Neeme AM. We enjoyed excellent food provided by Trippas White Group. Combined with magical period music provided by our very own Janet Bagnel.
Please click here to see some photos of this wonderful lunch.
Many thanks to our sponsors for our wonderful prizes
Harvey Norman
Berrima Bakehouse Motel
Jacaranda cruise via Rosstours
Penny Gay
For details of the actors see below. Unfortunately, Matilda Ridgeway was not able to perform at the last minute, and Eloise Winestock was our Elizabeth Bennet. Eloise is a graduate of the acting course at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAPA) where, coincidentally, our play reading Director Aarne Neeme was one of her teachers. She has a particular interest in Shakespeare and has fond memories of performing at the Sydney Opera House for Bell Shakeseare’s Henry V and The Tempest (John Bell’s farewell production). In 2013 Eloise won a Sydney Theatre Award for a Best Supporting Role in Sport For Jove’s production of The Comedy of Errors and has recently completed a repertory season performing in Macbeth and Othello for the same company .
Pymble Players Moonlight and Magnolias – Matinee Sunday 26 June 2022
We are never let down by a performance at the Pymble Players.
Please click here to see photos from this event
Directed by: Joy Sweeney
Legendary Hollywood producer David O. Selznick has a problem. Five weeks into shooting Gone with the Wind he has fired a clueless director and the script needs to be completely rewritten in 5 days or the production will shut down! The writer he wants has never read the novel. The replacement director has to be called away from the set of The Wizard of Oz.
An hilarious insight into the five madcap days that brought a Hollywood classic to the screen.
Our wonderful Ladies Committee put on a sumptuous feast for afternoon tea at interval. “We’ll never be hungry again”.
Thank you also to our sponsors Lindt Chocolate and Moët & Chandon – who helped with the raffle prizes.
The Platinum Jubilee Mothers Day Sparkling High Tea – 11th May 2022
Such a wonderful High Tea. Everyone enjoyed the surprise when the chef delivered an exciting stand which then steamed clouds.
Thank you to Pacific Opera for providing such wonderful performers: Mikayla Tate, Gavin Brown and Bradley Gilchrist. You can see a snippet of their performance at: Mikayla, Gavin and Bradley Performing at High Tea.
Thank you to our sponspors for their wonderful prizes:
You can see a selection of photos at Photos for Platinum Jubilee Mothers Day Sparkling High Tea
Yum Cha – The Palace Restaurant. – 19th March 2022
It was wonderful to catch up with old friends and new. A fabulous time was had by all with an abundance of delicious food. Our date coincided wonderfully with the 90th anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The Bridge Quiz was created by our very own Carolyn Lowry AO who also wrote and lead us in the Bridge Song. Also who could forget the competitive sing off – go Table 6!
Please click here for some photos of the event
And click here for memories of the song and the sing-off for the winner of the Bridge quiz!
The raffle and bridge quiz prizes, of the bottles of Moet Champagne and boxes of Lindt Chocolate, were kindly provided by our generous sponsors.
Pymble Players Building Blocks – 10th February 2022
We are never let down by a performance at the Pymble Players.
This time a quirky play about a dodgy builder. And who hasn’t experienced one or two of those in the past.
Our wonderful sponsors Lindt Chocolate and Moët & Chandon – helped with Door as well as the Lucky Seat prizes
Events in 2021
Christmas Luncheon at Four Seasons Hotel 3rd December 2021
A fabulous and very successful Christmas Luncheon was held in the Ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel. It was attended by our patron, Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, as well as the CEO of the Sydney Opera House Louise Herron.
Also after 10 years at the helm Jan Kneeshaw stepped down as President and introduced Michelle Feehan as the new President of our committee
Please click here to see some colourful photos from this event
Please click here to see and hear the wonderful performances by Julie Lea Goodwin and Guy Noble. Note that you are able to select a particular performance or carol should you wish. Once again many thanks for this videography to
Pymble Players – Blithe Spirit – June 16th 2021
A classic tale of the blurring of the afterlife with real life
Mothers Day 29th April 2021
A wonderful lunch and entertainment was enjoyed in the beautiful ballroom of the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel.
Glorious entertainment was provided by Cabaret Sensation Meredith O’Reilly accompanied by Pianist and Composer John Martin
Please click here to see photos from this event.
Pymble Players – A Pack of Lies – March 11
A wonderful nights entertainment, based on a true story of espionage. Set in London during the cold war.
events in 2020
Christmas Luncheon in The Ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel. 3 December 2020
The Kevinwood Handbell ringers and tenor, Brad Cooper entertained a record number of guests.
Please click here to see the video of the introduction followed by the performance by the Kevinwood Handbell Ringers, an ensemble of the Kevinwood Orchestra of Eastwood.
Please click here to see and hear the amazing Australian tenor Brad Cooper
Please click here to watch the video of the handing over of the cheque to the Sydney Opera House representative, with speeches and presentations by our treasurer Sandra Bartels as well as the two Janelles from the House describing some of the access programs, followed by the raffles
Many thanks for the videography to
Events in 2019
High Tea in The Strangers Dining Room, NSW Parliament House. 26th September 2019
Sparkling High Tea with Liesl Tesch AM, BSc, MP (speaker) and Hon. Jonathan O’Dea BA, LLM, MBA MP (host).
Please click here to see photos from this event
“There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t met”. William Butler Yeat – Poet
Diva Delights – Utzon Room, Sydney Opera House – 2 August 2019
with Valda Wilson (soprano) and Jonathan Wilson (pianist)
Please click here to see photos from this event
The Women’s club – 2 May 2019
Professor the Hon. Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO was guest speaker
please click here to see photos from this event
Yum Cha at The Palace Chinese Restaurant – 23 March 2019
Please click here to see photos from this event
Reception at NSW Government House – 5 March 2019. Our patron, Her Excellency, Mrs Linda Hurley, wife of then Governor of New South Wales, held a Cocktail Party for Committee members, long-time supporters and sponsors at NSW Government House. The Army Band played, Kamahl AM sang to the accompaniment of Michael Hope on the piano and Mrs Linda Hurley dedicated her song to the Committee.
Please click here to see the photos from this event
events in 2018
A Dickens Christmas at the Sir Stamford Hotel – 6 December 2018. Featured Peter Carroll reading “A Christmas Carol” by Dickens with associated artists, including Kamal and Mrs Linda Hurley.
Please click here to see the photos from this event
Pymble Players – Quartet – 24th October 2018
Three former opera singers, have a companionable existence at the retirement home for musical artists.
Please click here to see photos from this event
Songs for Spring Lunch at the Women’s Club 5 September 2018
with Cheryl Barker (soprano) and Simon Kenway (pianist)- 11 April 2018
Please click here to see photos from this event
John Bell AO OBE in the Utzon Room – 11 April 2018
Lunch accompanied by Bridget Bolliger (flautist) and Jane Rosenson (harpist)
Please click here to see the photos from this event
Events in 2017
A Dickens Christmas at the Sir Stamford Hotel – 6 December 2017. Special guest actress Penny Cook in the presence of our new Patron, Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, Lara Winsbury, Amelia Farrugia and Brad Cooper, Geoffrey Chard, with Michael Hope (piano) Carol sheets
Please click here to see the photos from this event
“Music in the Secret Spring Garden” 29 October 2017.
Two talented musicians, Emanuel Lieberfreund and Siegfried Mirza are well known and loved by Sydneysiders. We heard some classical, jazz, standard Latin, African, rock and eastern music
A glorious garden party at the home in St Ives of Agnes from the SOHL Committee.
Please click here to see the photos from this event
Events in 2016
In the Mood for Spring Lunch at the Women’s Club 22 September 2016
Special guest –providing the wonderful Jazz music on his alto sax James Whelan
Please click here to see the photos from this event
Events in 2015
Introducing Miss Dally at the Women’s Club – 8 July 2015
Special guests June Dally-Watkins, with Michael Hope (Pianist)
Please click here to see photos from this event
Events in 2014
Christmas Luncheon at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel – 27 November
‘Mad About Coward’, Special guests – Stuart Maunder AM with Ann-Maree McDonald (piano),
Please click here to see photos from this event
Yum Cha at Fat Buddha in QVB – 9 August
Please click here to see photos from this event
Morning Tea at the Women’s Club 29th May
Special guests
Peter Cousens with Ann-Maree McDonald (pianist)
Please click here to see photos from this event
