There was plenty of fluttering, fascinators and fun throughout the Illawarra yesterday as the region's restaurants and hotels put on a host of Melbourne Cup luncheons.The wet weather failed to deter hundreds of people from dressing in their race day best and converging on venues across the region in the name of Australia's most famous sporting event.
GALLERY: Illawarra racegoersChifley Wollongong held an intimate lunch for 65 people, with the warmth of the roaring fire proving almost as popular as the free-flowing Veuve Clicquot champagne.Illawarra dermatologist Robert Salmon shut his Wollongong surgery for the day to treat his staff to the Chifley luncheon.Wife Sue said it was the only day in the year they could get all their staff together to celebrate."Traditionally we close the practice, spend the morning doing some staff training, then go out for lunch and the Cup," she said."I'm very pleased we made the choice to go inside this year, given the weather."More than 130 residents spent their Melbourne Cup afternoon at North Wollongong's new Seacliff Functions venue, enjoying food and wine all in the name of the KidzWish Foundation.KidzWish executive director Chris Beaven said she was delighted with the turnout and the organisation. "We've even had an impromptu appearance by some whales," she said.It is hoped the charity event will raise more than $20,000 for the foundation.The Hotel Illawarra was also the scene of cup festivities as 140 people gathered to cheer their favoured horses to the post.Woonona's Lara Zulian put her money on Gai Waterhouse's cup entry Descarado, saying she knew she was going against the odds set down by the favoured So You Think.Unfortunately for Ms Zulian, Descarado failed to finish the race, won by French horse Americain.Second place went to Maluckyday, with Cup favourite So You Think finishing third.For those who were more focused on fashion than horse-flesh, the Hotel Illawarra's hat-making competition proved a popular alternative to race watching.Women were invited to create their own fascinators, which were later judged on originality, design and creativity.
