Surfs up in the Aegean for Christine

Christine Alexander has never travelled overseas but that’s all about to change.

On Saturday night at a gala function in Sydney, Chris was announced the winner of the Probus National Photographic Competition for 2012/13.

Her photograph of lovely Eden bathing belles Val Barber, Celia Hannon and Margaret Sheaves (see photo) has won her a Mediterranean cruise for two valued at $18,000 aboard the Aegean Odyssey cruise ship 

“I haven’t been anywhere. I didn’t have a passport until three weeks ago,” Chris told the Magnet on Monday.

“My husband hasn’t been well and I thought I would have a little holiday in New Zealand for a bit of respite so I got my passport and even joked that I might even win the competition!”

To Chris’s absolute shock she was announced the winner.

“Lo and behold I’m sitting there quite blasé, and they make the announcement…and the winner is…then they handed me the cheque! I was alright until midnight then I started getting palpitations. I thought gosh, I may not even make it to the cruise at this rate.”

Looking hale and hearty on Monday Chris was sharing the good news with Eden Probus president Daphne Lister. 

“It’s thrilling that Chris won it. We’re only a group of 60 odd Probus members in Eden. Members of Probus clubs all over Australia – most of them much bigger than us - could enter this competition so when someone like Chris does well, it’s encouraging,” Daphne Lister said.

“The thing was its (the competition theme) active retirees. It’s the only finalist (photo) to me that says ‘active retirees’. 

“I’m absolutely stoked to think that’s Chris has won it.”

Christine returned to Eden on Sunday with her monster winning cheque in her baggage. 

She says her phone hasn’t stopped ringing with well-wishers all keen to congratulate her.

“I’m a celebrity you know! I’m throwing out the John Dowton and putting the cheque up on the wall,” she joked.