Christmas comes early at the ‘Women in Media’ lunch

It’s an annual event and an invitation much sought after by Melbourne’s media girls – the Women in Media Lunch at Crown. That’s not just because Crown’s Ann Peacock always puts on such a wonderful day with superb food and champagne, it’s the company invited AND the incredible goody bag you stumble home with after a day of indulgence…

Last Friday we gathered at SILKS restaurant where the staff prepared a stunning feast of delicate dishes that blew my diet out of the water… not that I cared one bit!

In this case, the photos I took will best tell the story of how the day panned out so let’s take a look:

We gathered on the balcony of Crown's SILKS restaurant.

We gathered on the balcony of Crown’s SILKS restaurant.

The Dream Team from the Blo Bar were on hand to style lashes and hair for those who'd rushed to make it on time

The Dream Team from the Blo Bar were on hand to style lashes and hair for those who’d rushed to make it on time…

PR guru Kerry O'Brien and Gold FM's Brigitte Duclos get the full treatment from the Blo Bar crew

PR guru Kerry O’Brien and Gold FM’s Brigitte Duclos get the full treatment from the Blo Bar crew

Age journalist Suzanne Carbonne gets an eyelash lift from the Blo Bar crew

Age journalist Suzanne Carbonne

Media gals Alice Coster, Wendy Tuohy and Rebecca Maddern

Media gals Alice Coster, Wendy Tuohy and Rebecca Maddern

The room's decor was stunning, including the highlight - a towering floral peacock

The room’s decor was stunning, including the highlight – a towering floral peacock

Ornate peacocks sat atop the decadent floral arrangements...

Ornate peacocks sat atop the decadent floral arrangements…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And it didn’t take much to work out the inspiration behind the theme of the day…

 

The stunning peacock arrangements paid tribute to one of the hardest working among us, Crown's Ann Peacock

The stunning peacock arrangements paid tribute to one of the hardest working among us, Crown’s Ann Peacock

Never too old to sit on Santa's knee - me and Herald Sun columnist Wendy Tuohy

Never too old to sit on Santa’s knee – me with Herald Sun columnist Wendy Tuohy and Santa!

A highlight of the day was the entertainment – songs performed by a young man with one of the most beautiful voices I’ve heard – 11-year-old Beau Woodbridge. You’ll get the chance to hear him too when he performs at Carols By Candelight with David Hobson on Christmas Eve. And yes, you may have recognised his surname. His father is none other than tennis great Todd Woodbridge.

Star of the future 11-year-old Beau Woodbridge

Star of the future 11-year-old Beau Woodbridge

Recognise these faces?

Recognise these faces?

Dee Dee Dunleavy, Kate Langbroek, Brigitte Duclos, Jane Kennedy and Rebecca Maddern get into the festive spirit!

Dee Dee Dunleavy, Kate Langbroek, Brigitte Duclos, Jane Kennedy and Rebecca Maddern get into the festive spirit!

As lunch drew to an end, Ann wheeled in early Christmas gifts for all... a trolley-sized goody bag!

As lunch drew to an end, Ann wheeled in early Christmas gifts for all… a trolley-sized goody bag!

The Waiting Room bar at Crown

It all ended too soon, so for those of us who wanted to kick on, we headed downstairs to The Waiting Room bar.

Martinis anyone? Jane, Kate, Dee Dee, Rebecca and Ann Peacock at The Waiting Room

Martinis anyone? Jane, Kate, Dee Dee, Rebecca and Ann.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Got my trolley home without being too trollied...

Got my trolley home without being too trollied…

The trolley contents spilled over the table… a never-ending stream of surprises

The trolley contents spilled over the table… a never-ending stream of surprises

Here’s some of my favourites:

A mini bottle of Moet - my favourite champagne!

A mini bottle of Moet – my favourite champagne!

Luxury skincare from La Prairie

Luxury skincare from La Prairie

A new Burberry lipstick - LOVE the stylish platinum packaging.

A new Burberry lipstick – LOVE the stylish platinum packaging.

Vintage Princess white leather and silver cuff

Vintage Princess white leather and silver cuff

Swisse Vitamin samples

Swisse Vitamin samples

A box of The Muesli sachets

A box of The Muesli sachets

An elegant Simply Vera candle by Vera Wang, Harris Scarfe

An elegant Simply Vera candle by Vera Wang, Harris Scarfe

Beautiful make-up from Benefit

Beautiful make-up from Benefit

Cool summer nail colours from Nine West

Cool summer nail colours from Nine West

Make-up and blow-dry voucher from Blo Bar

Make-up and blow-dry voucher from Blo Bar

Milky Foot treatment

Milky Foot treatment

My kind of self-help book

My kind of self-help book

 

Whitening cream and skin evaluation voucher from Liberty Belle

Whitening cream and skin evaluation voucher from Liberty Belle

Plus there were movie passes from Roadshow and Palace cinemas, all adding up to possibly the best-ever goody bag I’ve seen. Huge thanks to Ann Peacock, Crown and all the sponsors for such a wonderful day.