Balls

according to Keith “the famous well-laced trifle” for supper.

The Anglican Ball was a rather more staid a air by comparison.

You could attend balls almost every week in the winter, with the Show Ball and the Picnic Race Ball among others.

It was very important to dress properly, of course, and much thought would go into your outfit.

Keith remembered that Bermuda Jackets were very popular in his youth and suits were mandatory.

Peg and John Bowler lived in Trangie in the early 1960s and used to go to many balls within a fifty-mile radius.

“One guy would hang his dinner suit on the door all winter,” John told me, “He went to so many balls, he said that it wasn’t worth his while putting it away!”

Peg remembered that the ladies were asked to “bring a plate” which could confuse newcomers to the country who didn’t quite understand that there had to be something on the plate!

They danced to the music of The White Rose Orchestra as well as enjoyed Don Burrows who played the clarinet, saxophone and flute.

Of course, dances, which were not quite as formal as balls, were also a great way to meet someone.

The boys would mostly stand at the door while the girls would sit along the walls.

It was probably just as di cult to ask a girl to dance as it was to sit and wait to be asked!

Tim Vivers who, with his wife Di, managed properties in the west, lived at one time where the house could only be reached from the main road by opening and shutting twelve gates.

“Getting in and out of the car in the early hours to open and close twelve gates, in our finery, rather took the shine o things,” remembered Di with a shudder.

Many girls made their ‘debut’ at one of the Balls.

This tradition began as early as the 1600s when women of noble birth were presented in court to the King or Queen of the day. At this point, they were expected to mingle in high society and were treated as adults.

Their parents were no doubt hoping that they would make a “suitable marriage.”

It’s interesting to note that debutante balls were banned in the UK by Queen Elizabeth in 1958 because, apparently, of “corruption”. They still went on in Australia, but in a much less divisive way and the snobbery aspect seems not to play a part in the selection of debs.

Jeanette Scott remembered the balls she attended in the 1950s.

“They were lovely country events,” she said, “and a chance to dress up in formal wear. The men were always in suits with Brylcreem in their hair. We had old-fashioned dances like the Waltz, Quickstep, Pride of Erin and the Barn Dance. The old Strand theatre had a ballroom which was very popular.”

The Bachelor and Spinster Balls were notorious in country areas for the revelry and the enormous amounts of alcohol consumed, often leading to somewhat wild behaviour by those in attendance, causing tragic car accidents.

“The balls really didn’t start until about 10pm,” said Peg, ”so there was plenty of time to get lubricated.”

Going to a ball seems to have died out in these modern times. The cost of insurance and licensing laws have sounded a death knell and young people are forced to find other ways to meet potential partners.

While there are still the occasional “Deb Ball” these too don’t seem to be as popular. With the age of the mobile phone and the internet, there are di erent ways to meet a partner and we must accept that times have changed – but they were certainly part of the “good old days.”

Copyright HelenMcAnulty

Conservatorium & Planetarium

√ 24 hour rescue helicopter service for Orange and region

√ $14 million for highway upgrades between Lithgow and Orange

√ Bat/hail netting funding for local orchardists

√ $1.2 million for CCTV in Orange, Bathurst and Wellington

√ 47 mobile phone towers and base stations across Calare

Wncl Homegrown Hero Hits Opponents For Six

There was huge excitement in Orange last week with the NSW Breakers taking on the ACT Meteors in the Women’s National Cricket League (50 overs) at Wade Park.

For the residents of our area, the star of the show was local legend Phoebe Litchfield, and she didn’t disappoint with two knocks of 46 and 57 over the two games and the Breakers winning both games. Her partnership on Sunday with centurion Tahlia Wilson was a batting masterclass.

It was terrific to see so many young girls and boys grabbing autographs and photos with the stars and having seen Phoebe in action, giving them a glimpse of what they themselves could one day achieve.

Thank you Cricket NSW. Please bring the Breakers back again next season!

Hats off to Orange City Council for all their hard work to make Wade Park the premier cricket venue in the Central West. Well done!

Seniors Village Hub Opens

During the week I was delighted to stop in for the opening of the Seniors Village Hub, and was launched as part of the Seniors Festival.

The Seniors Village Hub is located at 77 Kite Street, with access via the Woolworths carpark.

The hub will be hosting a variety of activities including tai chi, chair yoga, art, technology and games, as well as one-off information sessions regarding issues affecting older people.

The hub aims to increase wellness and reduce loneliness and isolation experienced by older people living in Orange, Blayney and Cabonne.

If you’re an Orange resident aged 55 and over, or an Indigenous resident aged over 50, pop down and say G’day.

Do you have a skill or interest you would like to share with others? Why not run a regular class or workshop. Or join the Steering Committee and help shape the Village Hub. They’re open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The Seniors Village Hub was established with almost $250,000 funding from the Australian Government Department of Social Services. I’m so proud to be a part of making this hub happen.

Local Soil Science Yields Big Carbon Dividends For Farmers

Did you know that the Central West is home to the second biggest soils analysis lab in Australia?

In a humble-looking shed on the outskirts of Orange, you’ll find an international team of top scientists looking at how soil (yes, soil!) can help farmers earn some extra dough, and give the planet a bit of a hand, too.

Recently, I got the chance to visit the lab and meet the team at Loam Bio, who are developing soil products that make it easy for cropping farmers to participate in carbon farming. The team have developed a seed treatment which enables soil to store more carbon, cutting the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Farmers can then sell carbon credits, and also increase their yield per acre. Loam is one of Australia’s fastest growing agritech companies, with offices and labs in Canada, the US, and Central Western NSW! A big thank you to Tegan Nock, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Loam, who gave a fascinating presentation and tour of the labs! It’s great to see world-leading innovation taking place in the bush!

The Australian Government is supporting Loam Bio support our farmers with a $9.3 million grant through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. I was very impressed with what I saw there during my visit. This is a game changing opportunity for our local farmers and our country.