Lavender guns for charity

WHEN Lavender Patten landed on the square marked Community Chest, she hoped to receive money for houses - but she wasn't playing Monopoly, she was playing with firearms.

As president of the Community Chest charity fund, Mrs Patten was at the courtyard of the Noonday Gun yesterday with the honour of firing the historic gun for the Chest's 25th anniversary.

However, for a moment she did not seem pleased with the honour, shielding her ears with her hands as the shot echoed.

But the moment passed quickly and she boasted a wide smile for the cameras as she received an engraved souvenir gun shell.

Anyone can fire the famous gun, which has resounded across Victoria Harbour at noon for more than 150 years - anyone, that is, who can provide a donation of $28,000 for the Community Chest.

''Well, you can't let off firecrackers these days,'' said the executive director of the Chest, Denis Bray.