Shipping Australia held its annual NSW State Committee Christmas Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency this year.
There was a real debate whether or not there even should or could be a luncheon this year because of the pandemic. But our members overwhelmingly expressed support for SAL to host a Christmas lunch.
Remote working and teleconferencing has been an absolute boon during this troubled year but, as the human species is fundamentally a social species, we all need to get together from time to time, just for a chat, to share a joke and a meal. It’s just part of being human.
Indeed, on the day, many people told us that it was the first in-person business event or meeting that they had been in all year and it was one of the reasons why they wanted to be there.
Of course, the event had to be held in a COVID-appropriate way with guest registration, temperature checks, a ban on pre-luncheon mingling, hand sanitizer and social distancing**.
Thank you to our supporters
Events of this nature are simply not possible without the support of our sponsors. We would like to particularly thank our lead sponsor, NSW Ports. Marika Calfas, the CEO of NSW Ports, gave the keynote address.
We would also like to thank sponsor ACFS Logistics, who enabled us to provide entertainment for the day.
And finally, we would also like to thank DPW Australia for its generous support by sponsoring the gift provided to each individual guest.
Thank you all.
Offspring, Australian identity… and… sharks; the very many faces of Vince Sorenti
Entertainment was provided by well-known Australian stand-up comedian, writer and television presenter Vince Sorrenti, who was very well received on the day.
** NOTE: our photographs were shot using a long-lens. A long-lens has the effect of compressing and flattening the image which creates an optical illusion that objects which are in reality far away from each other appear to be close together. Or, to put it another way, our pictures appear to show people close to each other even though they are in fact socially distanced.
You can read independent explanations about this effect here or here or here and also here.
There were were in fact only four people on a table. Guests were socially distant from each other on the table and the tables themselves were also spaced apart from each other.
