At Cedar Bar and Kitchen’s Melbourne Cup Day lunch patrons were encouraged to come along dressed up to the nines for the occasion.

Winner of the ‘Best Dressed’ competition was beauty therapist Ingrid Ricciardello and winner of the ‘Best Hat’ was Elizabeth McCabe from Retro Bello.

Meanwhile, Bellingen VIEW Club was putting on its own function at the home of one of its members at Endeavour Drive.

Twenty ladies from the club plus four debonair gentlemen enjoyed Melbourne Cup Cakes made by Beth Howard as part of their special repast.

Their ‘Favourite Hat’ award was judged by the men, who chose one sporting a farmyard motif worn by Brontey Sidrabs.

Finally, roving photographer Brad McCosker also snapped the staff at the Bellingen branch of the Banana Coast Credit Union, who were all wearing handmade fascinators and hats created by branch manager Noelene Weick using materials such as chux cloths.

See also photos from Valla, Urunga and North Beach