By Alex Mitchell
IT WAS an official invitation that had the guests bursting with pride and anticipation - afternoon tea with Governor-General Quentin Bryce at Yarralumla, the grand residence on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin.
Sixteen war service veterans and senior citizens from Morshead Home put on their summer best this month for the outing of a lifetime.
No bikkies ... Govenor-General Quentin Bryce.Credit: John Woudstra
Their first disappointment was the non-appearance of the G-G (pictured). She was there but unavailable to meet the elderly male and female guests.
However, her husband offered a welcome and invited them to inspect the house and gardens, after which tea would be served. But only tea. No sandwiches, no biscuits, no cakes.
A staff member explained that no food would be served because of budget restrictions.
"What? Not even a bikkie?" one of the ex-servicemen muttered.
The spartan reception at "Bleak House" is now the talk of Morshead, a home for 79 veterans and older citizens in the ACT suburb of Lyneham.
John Ballard, a Royal Navy veteran and Legacy member, is still bemused by the strained hospitality: "I'm not making a whinge, but we were all expecting to receive a full afternoon tea with food.
"I've been to Government House before so it was very noticeable when they didn't serve food this time.
"It seemed completely disorganised and haphazard. My impression was the whole thing was a bit ad hoc."
A Morshead woman, who asked not to be named, recalled: "I visited Yarralumla for morning tea when Sir William Deane was the governor-general and we all had the most wonderful time.
"After a tour, we were seated in the garden and given a lovely spread of sandwiches and cakes. There was nothing like that this time. I'm sure the Governor-General had nothing to do with it - she would have been very upset. It's a big slip-up.''
Mr Ballard pointed out that Morshead served afternoon tea to its residents each day with biscuits and fruitcake. "We had nothing like that at Government House - nothing.
"I feel sorry for the Governor-General. At least we get something to eat with our afternoon tea.''
The Governor-General's media office had not responded to The Sun-Herald's questions at the time of going to press.