Guests converging on the $20 billion Pratt family’s Raheen estate in Melbourne’s Kew on Saturday night knew they were in for a bar mitzvah with a difference when the driveway was taken over by a sizeable mobile COVID-testing station complete with medical staff.
Guests arriving for the celebration in honour of 13-year-old Leon Pratt, grandson of Jeanne Pratt and the late Richard Pratt, sat on benches for 15 minutes awaiting the results of their rapid antigen tests but were fussed over by ranks of waiters distributing flutes of champagne as they did so. It could have been more arduous – the original party plan required PCR tests instead.
No double vaccination certificate and negative RAT? No entry.
Earlier on Saturday, the service at St Kilda Shule was officiated by respected rabbi Yaakov Glasman. Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, this could have been yours! Leon’s father, Visy packaging king Anthony Pratt, and mother, Claudine Revere, (as well as sister Lilly) created waves by defecting to the St Kilda Synagogue from the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in South Yarra last year.
Once the COVID-testing formalities were out of the way, about 200 guests, including Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, having been given their all-important COVID-safe wristbands, gathered in the marquee for the formalities, which were hosted by Hamish Blake and Andy Lee.
Read the article by in The Age.