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| Alwyn and Audrey Henriques |
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| Joe and Alcina D'Souza |
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| Olivia and Ralph Vaz |
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| Carol singers, some sang in the choir as well |
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Leera Sequeira ( nee Abreo) (Lily) star Goan chef with her team at their stall
Proud day for
Sydney Goans
WHEN A GROUP
of Goans get together to do something for the community, it is not often that
they achieve the quality of excellence that was on show by the Goan Overseas
Association of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, December 2 for the
celebration of the feast of St Francis Xavier. It was not perfect, but it came
very close … read on.
A long, long
time ago, there some unforgettable SFX feast days … days when the association
attracted 60 or 70 children and Santa had his hands full … when the choir
singing Konkani hymns brought tears of joy to many eyes … or listening to
traditional Goan songs or watching traditional Goan dances … those were the
days when the senior citizens (retirees) were treated to an exclusive Goan
meal, with Goan sweets to take home, drinks (Harold D’Souza usually had a
bottle or two of feni for the day) served by dedicated members … all in all
they were days that filled the hearts of old timers like myself with joy.
Today
(December 2) was very much like one of those memorable days from the past.
President Alwyn Henriques and his team were applauded by most of the seniors I
spoke to at the lunch. All agreed it had been a truly memorable day. In
previous years, the hall often looked like a collective of shacks but this time
the hall looked pretty smart, tables neat with plastic cloths, lined with
chairs in a row and catering stalls hugging the walls but not packed like
sardines in a tin. The stage was also welcoming. Alwyn and his team decided very
early that they and their partners would concentrate largely on the senior
citizens. Olivia Vaz and Audrey Henriques were perfect hosts, helping folks to
their tables, even serving the plates and bring them to some folks who needed a
little help, or need their glasses filled. Joe (very dedicated Cultural
secretary and the man in charge of the day) and his wife Alcina were never too
far away. So was Agnes D’Souza. The drinks waiters were: Wendell Drego, Diogo Fernandes
and Alwyn, of course, was lending a hand wherever possible.
Ralph and
Olivia, and Abel do Rosario are visibly the
hardest working people around. Abel unfortunately was not able to attend due
good family commitments.
Of course,
Aaron Braganza, who continues to grow as a photographer, was doing sterling
work.
My personal
view: After a long time I think we actually saw the committee members at work …
as opposed to the armchair managers we have sometimes seen in the past. Really
proud of the committee and their partners.
Congratulations
must also go to the Goan chef, Leera Sequeira, who
provided the excellent Sorpotel (made by Leera’s sister Lata Britto), pullao,
chicken curry, potato chops, veg and the iron salad as well as the Goan sweets
(Joe and Alcina included one or two things they brought back from Goa on their
last visit. other sweets were donated by their friends) .
There were
several food stalls doing brisk business for members and guests, easily
numbering 300 or more. Since I was complimentary meal, I was not able to report
on the fare on offer, however, my friend Mervyn Pinto was quick to offer me a
pao with Goa sausages … it was delicious. Mervyn is making a bit of name for
this his regular fare, as well as his sausages. There were other folks doing
similar things. I guess I will write about them the next time we meet.
Santa came
and kept the children happy, folks sang Christmas carols and other songs, and
there were a musician or two and, of course, bingo.
It will be
interesting to see what Alwyn and his team come up with for World Goa Day next
year.
I mentioned
that it was not perfect, here’s why. I think the seniors’ lunch was introduced
during the late George Pereira’s presidency, our young people chauffeured folks
who needed transport to and from the feast. Various members cooked the
traditional Goan fare and former President Tony Machado and wife Queenie played
hosts. Drinks were also donated, but Harold D’Souza always saved a bottle or
two of feni for the feast. Later he and Hazel took up the hosting duties.
Right from
the very first year of my committee membership (1980 onwards), strict guidelines
were drawn up to ensure proper management of elders’ celebrations. Most
important of these was that the seniors had to be registered (via telephone
call (before the computers) or via member of the committee. Because we were
very small community, we entertained non-member seniors. Later when numbers
became too large, the invite was restricted to 65+ non-working members. We also
entertained visitors on reciprocal
basis who were paid up members from other Goan clubs in the diaspora. A letter
of introduction from the relevant club was desired, but this was never
enforced.
Back to the
seniors: As the popularity of the lunch grew, so did the enormous problems and
embarrassment at the door on each occasion. There was a simple rule, if you did
not meet the criteria, especially ringing and booking your spot, you could not be part of the seniors’
lunch.
The excuses
were inventive, pathetic, sad and the abuse that often followed was uncalled
for. I remember a couple claiming that they were visitors when they had been
living in Sydney for more than 28 months and were not members either. Or I told
a committee member, or I am related to a committee member, or I forgot and
remembered only this morning, I am sure I had telephoned and made a booking (of
course, he or she could not remember who they spoke to), or I am only working
part-time three days a week, or can we sit with our children, or we don’t want
to sit with the seniors, we are not pensioners, my partner is sick in hospital
can I take a packed lunch for him … There were a lot more inventive attempts to
Gatecrash the event but we always stood firm and the gate-crashers eventually
evaporated.
There were a few people who did not play by the rules and made it tough. Committees cater for people who registered their intent to come. A good friend of mine, who had been overseas, asked me: Why wasn't a place for me at the seniors' table? Did you register? I asked him. Why should I? They know me, he said. A few extras, up to five, are also ordered in case of genuine emergencies but not for people who things for granted or attempt to abuse the system. It is just not fair.
Ralph Vaz,
who was standing in Treasurer Abel do Rosario and doing two other jobs, was
almost exhausted at the end of the day …7 pm before they left the hall, waiting
for the caretaker to come and examine the hall, confirming it had been left in
a fit and proper condition. They had received complaints but these were the
misdeeds of other folks who had used the hall.
I got to say though bar these few, it was a fantastic crowd. Goans love to dance and
sadly there wasn’t enough of space. What is even sadder that there are no
larger halls available in Sydney to cater for functions like the SFX feast or
the World Goa Day. The committee did their best under the circumstances.
The choir
Rachel Menezes(tenor), Norman Menezes, Jason Menezes, Jessica Menezes, Chloe Menezes, Ron Lucas, Helen Lucas, Roy Rosario, Mikalya, Gerry Menezes, Ashley Menezes, Greg Menezes, Angela Menezes, Rosy Andrade, Agnes D'Souza, Alcina D'Souza, Joseph D'Souza.
What were hymns, the konkani hymns?
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