MINIATURE DEBUTANTES' BALL AT BILOELA
Many years have elapsed since any function in Biloela has attracted sucha large audience as was present in the Biloela School of Arts on the occasion of the Biloela miniature debutantes' ball. About 500 adults and children participated. Willing workers had tastefully decorated the stage and hall generally, and the effect lent added beauty to the display by the children as they entered the hall for the presentation. Punctually at 9 p.m. His Excellency the Governor, Lord Fitzstevens (R. Fitzgerald), accompanied by Her Excellency, Lady Pamela Fitzstevens (Pam Stevenson), and their daughter, the Hon. Yvonne Fitzstevens (Patricia Evans), with Captain Leichhardt (W. Likidis), aide-de-camp to His Excellency, in attendance, arrived at the hall in their car, and so dense was the crowd that the police were busily engaged in clearing the entrance way. Their Excellencies were received by the Mayor of the Callide Valley (Clarence Tanner), who was accompanied by the Mayoress (Mary Ratz) and the shire clerk (Edward Morrison).
The vice-regal party were then escorted to the stage by the herald (Thomas Stover) and the Mayor officially welcomed the Vice-Regal party to the Callide Valley. His Excellency responded with many humorous remarks in respect to municipal activities.
On the stage Miss Adelaide Ritchie acted as matron of honour, assisting in the presentation of the debutanteswhich followed.
The march to the stage by the debutantes was a scene they will not readily be forgotten. The children, all exquisitely gowned in white frocks of the latest mode end carrying posies of flowers, accompanied by their male escorts in evening dress, created unbounded enthusiasm. They passed through an archway of flowers, the archhearers being Misses Patricia Wilton. Shirley Brown, June Ricter, and Beryl Mathieson, Maureen Morrison, and Dalvena Murphy. The little flower girls were Merle Wilton and MargaretMorrison.
As each debutante passed on to the stage the large audience loudly applauded. The presentations over, the debutantes, with their partners, per- formed the grand march with wonderful accuracy and deportment.
Those present were Judith Blaney, Madge Hill, Esme Hounsham, Maureen Loughran, Beverley Stewart, Edna Wilson, Joan Hoskings, Vivienne Simpson, Marjorie Hounsham, Marie Mackenzie, Marlene Lebsanft, Eileen Murphy, Moya L'Huillier, Ruth Evans, Fay Simpson, Eileen Chapman, Phillis Morrison, Thelma Tanner, Patricia Clarke, Muriel Wilson, and Margaret Mackenzie. The male escorts were Kevin Cronin, Colin Hill, Herbert Bailey, George Melonas, Charlie Hill, Kenneth Lord, Morgan Hansen, Theo Molinas, Joseph Stover, Clifford Hill, Romuald Lehmann, John Williams, Gay Sherman, Kevin Wilton, Con. Melonas, Milton Sherman, Leslie Lehmann, Lloyd Elliott, John Briggs, Arthur Kennedy, Frank Hogan, and Eric Rideout.
At the conclusion of the grand march the children adjourned to the supper room, where a sumptuous repast was served, and each participant was presented with a souvenir.
The children participating were all under 14 years of age, many being of tender years, and their exhibition of technique and discipline reflected great credit upon the ladies responsible for their training.
Fitzgerald's orchestra rendered an excellent programme of music for the adult patrons, and dancing was enjoyed until early hours of the morning, with Mr Arthur Hogan as M.C.
The function was an outstanding success socially and financially and was arranged by the Rev. P. Walsh for the purpose of augmenting the funds in connexion with the establishment of the Biloela Convent School.
“Morning Bulletin” 22 November 1938 p5