NRS-16589 | Government House Garden Parties and Tours files

Garden parties were held at Government House and attended by several thousand people. The events were held to raise funds for numerous organisations, including the Medical Research Foundation of the University of Sydney, the Children’s Medical Research Foundation (Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children), the Malcolm Sargent Children’s Cancer Fund, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, the Children’s Hospital Camperdown, St John Ambulance Brigade, Sisters of Charity, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Senior Citizens, Combined Royal Societies, Australian Red Cross Society, Dalmar Children’s Home, Arthritis Foundation, Young Women's Christian Association, Alzheimers Society, Paraplegic Association, Asthma Foundation, the Salvation Army, Wesley Central Mission, the Volunteer Centre, Girl Guides Association, and the Conservatorium of Music. (1)Subsequent open days and tours were held at Government house, including caterers and entertainers, viewing of the State Rooms of Government house, tennis matches, fashion parades, poetry readings and afternoon teas to assist the Royal NSW Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, and a Children’s Christmas Fair at Government House to assist three well known charities. At 3pm provision of afternoon tea for the 60 volunteer guides was held for their efforts in 1991, entertaining up to 100 guides at afternoon tea. The Salvation Army Garden Party was held in 1992, with the arrival of 13 staff from the Intercontinental Hotel at 10.30am, plus ice and equipment, and at 12 noon delivery of food in rental trucks, with a Garden Party and Fashion Parade hosted by the Anglican Archbishop Donald Robinson, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association hosting a Garden Party, opening the gates at 11.45am, and at 12.45pm highlighting the Meryl Tankard Company and Carol Maddocks Folkloric Dancers performing for approximately 1 hour each between 12.45pm and 2pm.Mrs Lily Barbouttis championed the cause of the deaf in Sydney, and raised funds for the Echo Sounds Committee and the Shepherd Centre, to provide fundraising to support young hearing-impaired children, with the Scottish Hospital at Paddington – a project of the Presbyterian Church in NSW since 1926, providing the Hospital Board with an Intensive Care Unit and a Third Theatre, much appreciated by all who benefit from it. The National Trust held a garden party and tour of the house for a fundraising function, with the Royal NSW Institute for Deaf and Blind Children holding activities at particular times during the afternoon at various localities in the grounds, with the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service Association of NSW coming from the country and inter-state hoping to view the State Rooms of the House as they will most probably not have the opportunity to do so again. The gates were opened at 12 noon for the Australian Chinese Charity Foundation for a fundraising activity from 12 noon to 5pm, with a 30 metre Chinese dragon and 15 assorted Chinese lions and unicorns invading Government House to scare away evil spirits from the site. (2)Endnotes1. Government House Garden Parties (1), 6/6/1984-5/5/1993.2. Government House Garden Parties (2), 6/6/1984-5/5/1993.