Lindsay Fox celebrates birthday in style despite coronavirus restrictions
Trucking magnate Lindsay Fox wasn’t letting the coronavirus pandemic stop him and hundreds of his closest friends from celebrating his birthday in his trademark razzle dazzle style.
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A virtual Zoom meeting is ships away from Lindsay Fox’s “conception party” on the European high seas aboard a superyacht for his 80th birthday.
Fox went overboard in 2015 when he took 450 or so “first mates” on a $200,000-a-day top-of-the-line cruise ship for what he called his “conception” party.
Five years later, the up-market trucker, isolating in his Portsea pile with wife Paula, held a Zoom birthday party at the weekend to mark his milestone.
Eddie McGuire was master of ceremonies and charged with the organised chaos of keeping the 100 odd guests on mute to stop them from talking over each other.
Fox’s roll call of high flying guests, including actor Hugh Jackman from New York, premier Daniel Andrews, former premier Jeff Kennett, former union boss bestie Bill Kelty, retail king Solomon Lew and racing royalty Lloyd Williams, aren’t used to being muted.
The Zoom birthday catch-up was scaled back from original plans of an annual traditional men’s birthday lunch with whiskey. But the single malt’s were still poured, albeit in the opulent homes of each guest as they toasted and signed off after the hour-long hook up.
Sons David, Andrew and Peter led the tributes, reflecting on the values of mateship and loyalty their patriarch father instilled in them.
The living legend became “somewhat emotional” said one guest. Another said the top trucker left the meeting “on a high” after being cooped up at his coastal home for more than a month.
“It was a way of connecting with friends, while adhering to the rules, especially when you are over 80,” a guest who wished not to be named said.
Even in isolation, another Fox birthday passes with his trademark razzle dazzle.
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