Mr Rumble’s lunch – which has become a Bathurst institution – is held for those who are alone at Christmas, or feeling lonely.

About 170 people attended the lunch at the Hope Church, where they enjoyed a meal and some Christmas spirit.

Thirty volunteers came together to provide a Christmas meal and wrap and distribute presents, while Santa also paid the kids a visit. 

One of the volunteers was Bruce Prince, of the Bathurst Ministers Association, who said good news travels not only fast, but far, because a couple of families from Liverpool attended the lunch. 

“The two-course dinner comprised a selection of meats with baked vegetables, carrots and peas, followed by a dessert of chocolate cake and custard,” he said.

“Of course, there were cold drinks, as well as coffee and tea.”

Mr Rumble’s son-in-law, Patrick Seage, came all the way from Western Australia to cook the meal to perfection with the help of volunteers.

“Hope Church’s well-equipped kitchen was more than adequate to cater for this sort of event,” Mr Prince said.

“Steve Blackwell is the pastor of Hope Church, and it is his church’s generosity and kindness that has enabled all this to happen.

“Barney said to me later ‘I’ve been doing this for 25 years now, but it wouldn’t be at all possible if good-hearted people weren’t willing to give up their own precious time to come and help’.”

Mr Prince said Mr Rumble wanted all the volunteers who turned up this year to know that he appreciated the time, generosity and commitment that made the event such a success. 

He said Mr Rumble was expecting about 240 people to turn up, but he was not disappointed that far fewer attended.

“Barney said the fact that attendance was not as high this year as it has been in the past is a good thing,” Mr Prince said.

“It means that more people had somewhere else to go, and there were less people who were lonely.”