Flick through the gallery above for all the fashion action across the Illawarra.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Last Melbourne Cup, volunteer firefighter Brian Hardy was battling blazes around Sydney. So this year he was happy to sit back, relax and enjoy life at a different pace at Kembla Grange.
Crowds were down and it was hard to get in without a booking but like the Hardy family, others who managed to venture out on Tuesday made the most of the opportunity.
Mr Hardy was not only organised for this year but already has next year planned at Flemington for Derby Day and Cup Day.
It is a birthday treat for daughter Jasmine Hardy who turns 18 the day they leave on a six-day cruise to Melbourne. The trip was booked before coronavirus.
Mr Hardy has been to Flemington with his wife Rachael before but this time last year he was already fighting fires around the state as a member of the Rural Fire Service's Dunmore brigade.
"It was pretty hectic," he said.
Mr Hardy not only missed the races but Christmas. So Tuesday was a chance to make up for lost time with his family and he organised to have the day off two months ago.
"It worked out really well when I heard they were able to put some tables together and welcome up to 1200 people at Kembla Grange. I love how they have set it all up well spaced out".
The family booked a table on the lawn in front of the track for their youngest daughter's first day at the races and were happy with their choice when they saw Tuesday's weather.
Mr and Mrs Hardy have also booked seats in the stand for The Gong on November 21 and said it was great to be able to get out again.
Illawarra Turf Club CEO Peter De Vries said Kembla Grange was at capacity and was trying to get permission to host more people at The Gong meeting.
At the Lagoon Seafood Restaurant, Sally Boxsell and a table of friends from Backstage Salon and the Mental Health Movement were treated to a seven-course degustation.
The table was organised by Dan and Nadine Hunt as an opportunity to thank their staff.
The Lagoon's Andrew Harrison said the seven-course meal was a new measure to keep people seated and COVID-safe.
"Our capacity has been reduced significantly. We normally have 600 people but this year we have 275 which is our COVID capacity. It is a relief to be able to do it.
"Obviously there was a time when we thought it wasn't going ahead. We have 60 people working today."
Pamela O'Brien, of Locopa Design, was overseeing the Fashions In The Field competition at Kembla Grange on Tuesday.
"People are telling me they are excited to be able to get dressed up again," she said.
As the weather warms up and coronavirus cases continue to fall Mrs O'Brien is expecting to see more people don the latest fashions.
She thinks the last day of the Fashions In The Field online competition on The Gong race day will take that to a new level for 2020.
For photo sales, please call 4221 2265.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.