Extract from Old Antonian Social Club of Australia (OASC) 39th Dinner Dance Souvenir

President’s Message

Welcome to the 39th Annual Dinner dance ushered by the Old Antonian Social Club of Australia. The event is taking place after a lapse of 2 years due to the COVID 19 pandemic which paused all activities world over. We are now back with new found vigour in our 41st year to serve our 168-year-old Alma Matar. We also provide the environment to foster commandership to our fellow old Antonian community in Australia mainly living in Melbourne with the many social gatherings we organize.

It is pertinent to note that the year 2020 went by all of us, shell shocked trying to grapple with the rampaging COVID 19 menace. In 2021 we managed to partake in a few outdoor activities by mainly meeting our annual Cricket commitments by fielding teams. We also undertook a fund-raising campaign to assist the hospitals in and around Kandy by providing 250 cushioned sleep mats and also much needed masks, filters, tubes, valves etc. for the Oxygen ventilators again in the same hospitals worth approx. $5000.00. Unfortunately, despite funds been available the scholarship programme could not be executed the way we would have liked due to the severe disruption in the curricular activity in school, this situation will be reviewed & corrected at the earliest given opportunity.

In 2022 we are back in full swing having come to terms with the evolving situation. We have been able to action all indoor and outdoor activities as planned. Our Cricket team participated in the annual Cricket Quadrangular Cricket tournament and also played the annual big match with home town rivals Trinity College fielding the customary over 40 and open teams. We also had our stag night before the big match and also had the winter celebrations in the form of a “Curry Night”. College day was celebrated with the usual grandeur with many enjoying the occasion with two old Antonians honored for their yeomen services rendered to the Antonian fraternity in Australia.

Now we are here celebrating the ‘Big one’ the coveted 39th Annual Dinner dance. The occasion would not have been possible if not for the untiring efforts of the committee who kept no stone unturned countering all the limitations faced. All the members who came forward to sell the dance tickets needs special mention. All the sponsors of the souvenir advertisements and raffle gifts are remembered with gratitude.

I need to make a very special mention of our committee member Sujeewa Amerasinghe for his continued generous sponsorship assistance and immediate past president Naomal De Alwis for his contribution in handling the dance arrangements.

All of you who are patronizing us today, your presence is acknowledged with a ‘big thank’ you for that. Let us take this opportunity to bond, reminisce and make the most of it.

Lux De Coelo