A marquee has been erected on the grounds at Singleton Rugby Club to host the event, the 18th in the club’s Lunch with a Legend fund raising initiative.

Singleton Rugby Club president, Mick Kelly, said Mr Hawke’s widespread appeal was the reason the response had been so strong.

“We had 430 for Alan Jones last year, that was well above our previous best of 300 and we were confident to get 500 for Bob Hawke but to get 700 people is quite remarkable, that is about as many as you could expect at a luncheon in any Australian capital city, or the world for that matter,” Mr Kelly said.

People are travelling from as far as Queensland and Victoria to attend the luncheon and the logistics of hosting so many people for lunch is no easy matter.

“It is actually very difficult, it would be a big call to cope with more than 700 but I would never say never,” he said.

The Lunch with a Legend has successfully whittled down the club’s debt following the construction of dressing sheds and the upstairs renovation.

“We have all but paid for the extension and are working on old club debts but this is also a chance to plan for the future,” Mr Kelly said.

“Our old cool room was second hand when we bought it years ago and needs replacing and long term, we dream of having a second ground for our juniors but that is a long way off,” he said.

He said he was extremely proud the club had developed its own initiatives for fund raising and was not a financial burdon on Singleton ratepayers.

“Some people comment on the $90 ticket cost but I challenge them to go out for dinner and enjoy a three course meal and drinks and hear a world class speaker for less than that, you’d pay $150 in the city.”

Singleton Rugby Club is delighted to be in a position to welcome people of the calibre of Mr Hawke to town.

This year the club has had guest speakers John O’Neill and Nick Farr-Jones as a guest.

Mr Hawke will also be welcomed formally by Mayor Fred Harvison at a mayoral reception at the Civic Centre foyer this morning.

Mr Hawke, now 78, is one of Australia’s most popular prime ministers.

He is Australian’s longest serving Labor prime minister.

“It is a testament to his popularity that 700 people would want to sit and listen to what he has to say 15 years after he has left office,” Mr Kelly said.