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DEBUTANTES BALLS

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL 24th May 1947
On Saturday Night 24th May 1947, with outstanding success the R.S.L. Women's Auxiliary, staged the much
talked of Debutante's Ball. The record crowd which attended to enjoy the first function of this nature in
Gnowangerup, was representive of the whole district and, during the presentation, the Memorial Hall was
taxed to standing room only.
At 9.15 p.m. the floor was cleared, a carpet laid and there was an expectant silence first relieved by the
arrival of Mr. Doney, MLA. and his party. The crowd stood to attention for the National Anthem and when Mrs. N. L. Skewes had changed the tempo of the music, there advanced in the centre of the floor in old
world grace a dainty flowergirl attended by a white pageboy.
With curtsies befitting such an occasion they presented their flowers to Mesdames Doney and Freegard.

Miss Madelene Gaze was the first debutante to make her bow and she was followed by the Misses Anne Dyson, Dulcie Wise, Beatrice Moir, Margaret Whyatt,
Ada Vaux, Lesley Hart, M. Matthews, Joan Moir, Rosemary Moir, Joy White, May Flanagan, Nancy Atwell, Quona Voss and Verna Wray.
The little flowergirl was Janice Bailie and the page boy John Gillies. The posies were made by Mrs. A. Parnell.
After the presentation the orchestra struck up for dancing which continued into the small hours. The organisers and all those who assisted are to be congratulated
on the well served success of the evening.

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL 28th August 1948

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL 28th August 1948
Mr. DONEY MLA
Debutantes: ANNE DYSON, DULCIE WISE, BEATRICE MOIR, MARGARET WHYATT, ADA VAUX, LESLEY HART,
M. MATTHEWS, JOAN MOIR, ROSEMARY MOIR, JOY WHITE, MAY FLANAGAN, NANCY ATWELL,
QUONA VOSS and VERNA WRAY
Flowergirl JANICE BAILIE, Page Boy JOHN GILLIES

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL 28th May 1949

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL 28th May 1949
Back Row L – R: MARGARET HART (Weir), MARION WELLSTEAD, BETTY AYLMORE (Toms), BELLE GODFREY (Brown), NORMA BAXTER, NATALIE WELLSTEAD,
MAUREEN WRIGHT, IRENE CHAMBERS, MARGARET WHITE (Brade), BETTY BLACK (Wellstead).
Front Row L – R: EDNA MILLER, IRENE ALTHAM, DAWN THOMPSON (Miller), LAURA FRANTOM (Rout), JEAN FOSTER, GRACE DENNY (McDonald),
BETTY HOUNSHAM, DOROTHY WHYATT (O’Brian), DIANNE NORTON.
Children: Flower Girl KERRY GILLESPIE, Page Boy GRAHAM TYNDALL-POWELL. #

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL 20th May 1950
The R.S.L. Women's Auxiliaryis to be congratulated on the great success of the Debutantes Ball. Judging by the huge crowd that was drawn from all over the distrid and beyond, functions of this nature have not lost any of their popularity. Mr. A. F.Watts, the "Deputy Premier", was kind enough to officiate on the occasion and eleven beautifully gowned debs preceded by the little flower girls, Peta Chidlow, Kay Stewart and Joanne Dolley.

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL 20th May 1950
Back Row L – R: AILEEN THOMPSON, PAULINE FRANTOM, ELIZABETH COCKRAM, FLORENCE BENNETT, NORMA THOMPSON, ANNETTA STUTLEY
Front Row L – R: MARGARET PARNELL, HILDA TREASURE, LESLEY HINKLEY, ANNE ROUT, SHIRLEY WISE.
Flower Girls: KAY STEWART, PETA CHIDLOW, JO DOLLEY #

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL 20th May 1950
L – R: LEO DAWSON, HILDA TREASURE, WALLY HINKLEY, LESLEY KINKLEY, BOB COCKRAM, ELIZABETH COCKRAM, BILL FRANTOM, ANNETTE STUTLEY,
IAN ROUT, ANN ROUT, MAX BENNETT, FLORENCE BENNETT, HENRY FRANTOM, AILEEN THOMPSON, NOEL PARNELL, PAULINE FRANTOM,
KEN THOMAS, MARGARET PARNELL, TERRY SAVAGE, SHIRLEY WISE, MAX FISHER, NORMA THOMPSON
Front Row L - R: JOANNE DOLLEY, Mr. WATTS, KAYE STEWART, Mrs. WATTS, PETA CHIDLOW

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL 10th November 1951
Six Debutantes were presented to Mr. & Mrs. Roche, member for the Electorate.

GNOWANGERUP RED CROSS DEBUTANTES BALL 6th March 1954
Some of the guests that attending this Debutants' Ball in the Gnowangerup Hall had travelled Long distances from neighbouring towns. The ball, which was a great success, was organised in aid of the Red Cross March Appeal by Mrs. E.
Rowe, Red Cross liaison officer in Gnowangerup, assisted by an energetic committee. More than 300 people attended and six debutantes were present to Mrs. Cwen Eggleston, Director of Red Cross Branches. The debutantes entered the hall through a guard of honour formed by 16 small Junior Red Cross members dressed in white frocks and veils with red capes. Two flower girls and a page were in front. The debutantes were Melva Lawrence, Margaret Lewis, Valerie Lewis, Lillian Bennett, Coral Eastwood, and June Aylmore.
The Red Cross nurses, who added colour- to the occasion were: Isobel Walker, Jeanette McDonald, Jennifer Davies, Anne Foiisyth. Audrey & Janice Turner, Elizabeth Formby. Kay Stewart, Judith & Kay James, Margaret Varey, Isabel Wellstead, Margaret Harris, Pam Daglish, Susanne Costigan and Gloria Gunther.
During the evening a lovely bouquet was presented to Mrs. Rowe on behalf of the Junior Red Cross. Mrs. Rowe thanked all those who had assisted to make the Ball a success.

GNOWANGERUP RED CROSS DEBUTANTES BALL 6th March 1954
Back Row L – R:. TONY JOHNSON, HENRY FRANTOM, BARNEY McKENNA, STAN EASTWOOD, ROLY BLACKMAN, KIETH BENNETT
Middle Row L – R: MARGARET LEWIS, LILLIAN BENNETT, VALERIE LEWIS.
Sitting L – R: MELVA LAWRENCE, JUNE AYLMORE, CORAL EASTWOOD. Children: JENNIFER FORSYTH, RODERICK WALKER, CYNTHIA MURRAY.

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL May 1957
Back L - R: AMELIA NICHOLAS, SANDRA DAUGHAN
Front L - R: BARBARA STEWART (Flowergirl), ANN CAMERON, PAT YZERMAN, Hon. A. F. Watts M.L.C., CMG, Mrs WATTS,
JOYCE NICHOLAS, JENNIFER BADMAN, DIANNA HOUSE (Flowergirl)
Image Credit Sue Harness

AMELIA NICHOLAS
Image Credit Sue Harness

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL 1961

GNOWANGERUP DEBUTANTES BALL 1961

Back Row L - R:    JUDY MARSHALL, ROBERT MARSHALL, C. WARREN,, R. BREDEMEYER, I. WELLSTEAD, G. GILLESPIE, JANICE TURNOR, E. GOLLAN
Middle Row L - R:   H. FRANTOM, B. EDWARD, L. GREEN, V. USHERS, E. EDGLEY, A. FRANTOM, M. FRANTOM, B. WEST, S. LEWIS,
H. HANSEN, M. VAREY, ,A. THORNTON, B. HOUNSHAM, K. ANNING
Front Row L - R:   M. CARAMIA, A. GAZE, Monsignor CUMMINGHAM, R. POLLARD, A. GILLESPIE
Image supplied by Janice Turnor

GNOWANGERUP ANGLICAN DEBUTANTES BALL 1966
In the Gnowangerup Memorial Hall twelve beautiful debutantes made their bow to His Grace, The Rt, Rev. G. Appleton, Archbishop of Perth.
Sorry very damaged photo
 

GNOWANGERUP ANGLICAN DEBUTANTES BALL 1966
Photo by Courtesy Sherba Studios, Albany
Back Row L – R:. CELIA KING, CHERYL LAMONT, MARILYN FREEGARD, HELEN FRANTOM, LESLEY HAMS, GWEN MANTACH, SALLY BESSEL-BROWN
Sitting L – R: VENITA QUARTERMAINE, MAXINE NICHOLAS, JENNIFER SUMICH, JENNIFER BUNGEY, JENNIFER HOUSE

GNOWANGERUP ANGLICAN DEBUTANTES BALL 1966

GNOWANGERUP ANGLICAN DEBUTANTES BALL 1966
LESLEY & ARNOLD HAMS

ANGLICAN DEBUTANTES BALL 1966
CARINA BATEMAN & ROWENA WINROW #1

ANGLICAN DEBUTANTES BALL 1966
CARINA BATEMAN PRESENTING POSEY TO MRS. HOWELLS #2
(Wife of Anglican Minister in Gnowangerup)

ANGLICAN DEBUTANTES BALL 1966
UNKNOWN DEB #3

GNOWANGERUP ANGLICAN DEBUTANTES BALL 1966
   Left - Right:(Behind Carina) Mr. & Mrs. GILLESPIE?, Mrs. HOWELLS, ARCHBISHOP APPLETON,  Mrs. APPLETON. REV. HOWELLS        #4
(behind Rowena)  SKI WELLARD, TIM WELLARD, BETTY BATEMAN
M.C. on stage BARRY BATEMAN

ANGLICAN DEBUTANTES BALL 1966
JENNY SUMICH #5

ANGLICAN DEBUTANTES BALL 1966
L - R: ROD WALKER, JENNY SUMICh, BETTY SUMICH, BILL SUMICH #6

GNOWANGERUP ANGLICAN DEBUTANTES BALL 1966
  SUPPER AFTERWARDS Left - Right: ARCHBISHOP APPLETON, BETTY BATEMAN, BARRY BATEMAN, & Rev. HOWELLS          #7

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References: Article: Gnowangerup Star Newspaper
Research by Gordon Freegard

Image: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 Carina Anderson
5, 6 Cassie McGann