THE Christmas Gala for SnowyHydro SouthCare has become the major knees-up for all to celebrate the festive season.

In its third year on the lake shore, the choice of Lennox Gardens for the massive marquee to contain the 750 in comfort and shelter from the extensive “tropical” storms and deluges was wise, especially as the Hyatt Hotel Canberra was the caterer and for the guests a seamless and smooth operation of delicious food and premier service ensued.

Hand-held devices were essential for bidding, buying and bartering in the now simplest form of fundraising where All Bids handles the operation and constant perusal of the overhead screens – that’s squinting for some of us – is more civilised than the live-auction formula.

To add to the coffers, Moet was the bubbles choice with a bottle giving four tickets in the very desirable diamond necklace draw. More than enough didn’t necessarily win us the diamond but we all loved the “methode champenoise” fundraising method.

For Owen Finegan, the larger-than-life CEO, it was a triumph of lessons well learnt, upping the ante each year to encourage Canberrans to support this organisation – weather or not.