Eliza Fahey, Austen Brown, Kirby Maslin, Tom Maslin, Hannah Thorpe, Ashlee Coe, Mrs Marcia Simmons, Mrs Pat Duncan, Laura Vonthien, Charlie Vonthein, Claire Turner, Brodie Gartner, Emily Molloy, Will Bolam, Meg Fahey, James Edmunds, Gerogia Cole and Pat Tulaga. Front: Gerogia Nixon (flower girl), Lincoln Molloy (page boy) and Elsie Ball (flower girl)
After months of planning, fundraising and dance lessons, eight gorgeous young ladies and their equally handsome partners impressed and delighted their invited guests at the debutante ball on Saturday, 25th March.
The group consisting of Georgia Cole and Pat Tulaga, Eliza Fahey and Austen Brown, Meg Fahey and James Edmunds, Kirby Maslin and Tom Maslin, Emily Molloy and Will Bolam, Hannah Thorpe and Ashlee Coe, Claire Turner and Brodie Gartner, Laura Vonthien and Charlie Vonthien, were present to Mrs Pat Duncan, Ambassador for the Motor Neurone Disease Association of NSW.
The group were accompanied by flower girls Elsie Ball and Georgia Nixon, and pageboy, Lincoln Molloy.
The nervous duos performed their feature dance to “I’ll Be There” by Foster which was choreographed by Miss Emily Jack.
The ladies looked spectacular in their white gowns and the young gents wore smart single breasted navy suits, crisp white shirts, tan shoes and light blue accessories which complemented the colour theme.
Traditionally, debutante balls were formal occasions where young ladies were presented to society after learning manners and etiquette customary of the time. Modern debutante balls still teach participants social skills but are an opportunity to raise valuable funds for charities and not-for-profit organisations.
The tireless efforts of the debutantes and their partners cooking barbeques, selling raffle tickets and more, were justified with a profit of almost $2,400 raised which will directly benefit the Motor Neurone Disease Association of NSW.
MND is a progressive neurological disease that results in high levels of disability. Without functioning nerves, muscles waste and no longer function which affects the neck, shoulders, hands, feet, arms, legs and breathing. There is currently no cure for MND and two people are diagnosed and a further two die with MND every day in Australia.
The group chose to support the MND Association of NSW as it was dear to their hearts, with some of the group’s family members having been directly affected by it.
The monster raffle drawn on the night was well supported by local businesses and families who generously donated all nine of the prizes. First prize was a Malvern Star Adult bike sponsored by Bown’s Sportspower was won by Kim Maslin, second prize a garden parcel donated by Achesons Mitre 10 went to Deb Waters, June Dollar took out third prize, the REPCO vehicle cleaning kit, fourth prize a Tyreright gift voucher went to Jodie Vonthien, fifth prize a Blush Organic voucher was won by Gaye Donnelly, the Orange Tenpin Bowl voucher donated by the Fahey family went to Anthony Ireland, Eliza Fahey received the meat tray donated by Flint Street Butchery, James Edmunds took home the Merge Virtual Reality Goggles and Alex Molloy took out the final prize of the night, the Fisher Price interactive toy package.
Event coordinator, Anita Morrison, commended the group on their efforts and congratulated family and friends for their support.
The Debutante’s strike a pose before cutting the cake.