Thousands attend 17th annual Gold Coast community Christmas lunch

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.

More than 1500 people were expected to attend the Gold Coast community Christmas lunch 2024. Photo: Jacklyn O'Brien.

As much of the Gold Coast slipped into a Christmas Day food coma, Labrador State School’s community hall was a hub of excitement as thousands of people came together to enjoy the festive cheer.

Gold Coast Community Christmas Lunch organiser Susie Longman estimated volunteers fed at least 1500 people on Wednesday at the 17th instalment of the annual tradition.

Ms Longman said roast meats, a potato salad worth writing home about, vegies, music, presents, and an undeniable sense of community and belonging were on the menu.

Left to right: Sam O'Connor, Cameron Christie, Keely Blest, Susie Longman. Gold Coast community Christmas lunch 2024. Photo: Jacklyn O'Brien.

“We do have a lot of families doing it tough — and we welcome them with open arms — but we do also have many hundreds of older lonely people,” she said.

“So it’s just another day on their own, a lot of other services don’t operate over these few days, so they come along and we offer transport as well.”

It would have been impossible to be lonely at one of the long tables, which almost ran the length of the hall, with Christmas music, laughter and chatter combining in a cacophony of cheer.

There was at least one celebrity in the crowd, with Brisbane Broncos player Patrick Carrigan and his mum among the merrymakers.

Left to right: Susie Longman, Patrick Carrigan, Cameron Christie. Gold Coast community Christmas lunch 2024. Photo: Jacklyn O'Brien.

“I think it’s pretty amazing what they do here,” Carrigan said.

“It’s really special that everyone has a place to eat together, including me, and share some stories.

“I think Christmas is a beautiful time for a lot of people, but it’s a tough time for a lot of people too.”