Bastille Day big success despite drama

Sue Crafter at the Bastille Day Breakfast

Sue Crafter at the Bastille Day Breakfast

This year’s Bastille Day breakfast organised by L’Agence Consulaire de France d’Adelaide had an unexpected element of drama.

The volcanic eruption in Bali had stranded  Adelaide’s honorary French consul, Sue Crafter at the Bali Airport  on the eve of the Bastille Day Breakfast she was to host. Sue had organised  the annual event which celebrates France’s national day at the South Australian Sea Rescue Squadron at West Beach on Sunday, July 12.

At the point of despair on Saturday,  Sue telephoned French community leader and Singapore Airlines State Manager, Hugh Chevron-Breton to  help secure a flight home for herself and husband, high profile lawyer Michael Abbott, in time for the breakfast.

“I said to Hugh, if nothing else, could he arrange for the sailors’ hats to be brought home as luggage,”  said Sue, explaining that the hats were for the children attending the event.

Voila!  Hugh, a renowned heavyweight in the airline industry, arranged for the relieved couple to fly out on Saturday night – hours before the breakfast.   When  the aircraft touched down at Adelaide Airport Sue simply needed to cross Tapleys Hill Road to the  Sea Rescue Squadron’s clubrooms on Barcoo Road, West Beach.

Meanwhile, Hugh had taken on the task of collecting the French goodies – croissants, bagettes, brioches, pains au chocolat, les confitures, and other delicacies from French-born patissiere Andrea of Mulots and when Sue arrived all was in readiness for Adelaide’s French community to celebrate their nationhood and culture.

The Sea Rescue Squadron with Sue Crafter, Honorary Consul for France in SA

The Sea Rescue Squadron with Sue Crafter, Honorary Consul for France in SA

It all went swimmingly despite the foul weather with 100 guests enjoying exercises and displays by members of Sea Rescue throughout the morning. Naval cadets gave nautical lessons to children attending. Umbrella Accapella sang rousing nautical songs from Brittany and Puppets of Penzance entertained the children.

“The Maritime theme was an attempt to offer subtle
support to the French bid for HHS submarine project,” said Sue.