A Coledale resident since 2007, the popular singer – known for her hits My Island Home and Sunshine on a Rainy Day - wanted to show her kids the true meaning of Christmas by attending the lunch. 

‘‘I think this will be a new tradition in my family, because my kids are all grown and this is what I want to show my family – it’s about giving and being in a room full of people,’’ she said.

This year was the second year she has volunteered at the Wesley church lunch, although her first attempt was not so successful.

‘‘I came last year and got my times all mixed up – I dragged my whole family along as well and it had all finished,’’ she said.

‘‘So this time I got in nice and early. We got up and sang a few carols and a couple of songs of my own, and I think my children thought the giving was much more of a satisfying thing and my daughter said straight away, ‘Can we come back next year?’.’’

Ms Anu’s 12-year-old daughter Zippy joined her mum on stage and was all smiles as she took in the festive atmosphere at the lunch.

‘‘I like coming down here, because there are people who might not get as many presents as we get,’’ Zippy said.

‘‘We get to give to people, and Christmas Day is about giving.’’

The Wesley lunch has been running for almost 35 years and now caters for about 300 people.

Wesley Community Care co-ordinator Karen Zaini said numbers for the Christmas event continued to grow each year, which she attributed to unemployment in Wollongong.

‘‘There are no jobs, electricity bills have gone through the roof and just economically we have to pay for so much more,’’ she said.

‘‘We cater for the needy, the disadvantaged of Wollongong and just people who are lonely at this time of year.’’

More than 45 volunteers helped to serve up the lunch, which was donated by businesses and individuals around the region.