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Raising money for the community in the country 11/15/2011 1:23:38 PM
More about country Australian – Charity balls and dances were constant and the fun way to raise money for the community. I did not need to research the gala balls in my series of Outback novels. It was the event where couples met and fell in love….
I cannot remember when I have not worked for thecharitable needs of a small town. I was eighteen and fresh from boarding schoolwhen my local church asked me to take part in a contest comprising four girls,each from a different organization to raise funds to build the new RSL hall andlibrary (in memory of our local war hero John French VC) in our little town ofCrow’s Nest (north of Toowoomba). The family of John French lived in our streetand they were regulars on our tennis court on the weekends. The contest had meorganising tennis tournaments and cake stalls. The fund-raising activitiesconcluded at a huge Gala Ball in the new RSL hall which was packed to itslimits. I still have the formal dress with the halter neck I wore and Rob King,my new boyfriend was by my side. Thegirl from a wealthy farming family raised the most money; but it was all goodfun and so worthwhile, and being involvedis of course, part and parcel of country towns. It is something that remainswith you forever.
The dancing continued after several yearsof rearing children. We once more attended the charity balls – nothing reallychanged for years with the dress code in the country halls. Men wore theirsuits and the women their full length gowns and long white gloves.We had the boys in tow at these functions which wasnormal for many families and the children eventually fell asleep on the canvasseats pushed to the back of the hall which doubled as the picture theatre. Thecharity balls in my sagas were the real thing. The music of the country bands will stay in my heart always. This is adescription in one of my novels:
Themusic continuedwiththe nimble fingers of the piano player never tiring, transforming akeyboard into tunes that made the dancing couples sway and swing. The drummernever missed a beat and the violin player was a maestro of harmony who made hisinstrument croon to the melodies of the gifted pianist. The melodiouscontribution of the saxophone added the extra quality that set the countrydance band apart from any other in the district.
My husband was a very good dancer and was instrumental in teaching methe old time dance steps early in our courtship when we had attended a charityball or a dance almost weekly. Now it isreturning to our lives on the television set with shows like Dancing with the Stars which bring backmemories of beautiful gowns and astonishing music which country peopleaccomplished with very little cost. Every family had a dressmaker – mostfamilies had a musician. Dancing, music and dressing for the occasion was partand parcel of country life.
