Rotary Club of Gunnedah West has staged a Debutante Ball every year since 1976. In that time 874 young ladies of Gunnedah have made their debut at the ball. The Debutante Ball has been a significant Community Service for the young ladies of Gunnedah.
Until the early 1970’s the Anglican Church held an annual debutante ball but it lapsed for unknown reasons. In 1976, Gunnedah West Rotary partners, Betty Bramall, Gloria Nowland and Marion Warner suggested that the ladies of Gunnedah West should hold a Debutante Ball to give the town’s young ladies the opportunity to make their debut. This idea was probably prompted by Kerry Bramall, daughter of John and Betty, wanting to make her debut. Rotary partners Merle Harris and Delores Worthington were also very active participants in organising the ball from the start and Delores has a scrapbook featuring all but one ball.
Until 1989 the Rotary partners always held the ball on the 1st Friday of May but with the start of the four term school year the timing has since moved from year to year. From 1976 to 1980 the ball was a cabaret (BYO) style but was changed to provide a bar service due to the poor behaviour of some of those attending. The bar was operated by the Gunnedah Rotaract Club until Rotaract ceased operation in 1988 and it was a feature of the ball that most Gunnedah West Rotarians and their partners attended the ball occupying two or more tables. In 1989, Boggabri Rotarians helped to run the bar but in subsequent years the bar has been run by Gunnedah West Rotarians and unfortunately this has resulted in a reduced attendance by Rotarians at the ball itself.
Over the 46 year history of the ball, the debutantes and their partners have been trained by Tom and Mrs Wilkinson; Narelle Webster; May King; Bill and Margaret Fox; Mary and Ray Donnelly; Daniel and Vivian Rohde; Noel and Danny Wilson; Pauline MacGregor; Keith and Barbara Constable; Rhana Harley; and Marg Amos. The instructors have been assisted by Rotary partners and club members.
Over $166,000 have been raised and distributed to local charities. Approximately 19,000 people have attended and enjoyed the spectacle over the years. The Debutante Ball has truly been a significant community service to Gunnedah by the Rotary partners and members of Rotary Club of Gunnedah West.
A slideshow describing each Debutante Ball from 1976 to 2020 was made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rotary Club of Gunnedah West.. View the video
The 2020 Ball was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 Ball included both Year 11 and 12 students. The format was changed to a Presentation Dinner with a restricted number of guests. A formal dance was included late in the planning due to a relaxation of the COVID restrictions.
CJR, May 2023
1976 |
John Nowland
|
Major General "Sandy' Pearson, AO, DSO, OBE, MC
|
25 |
1977 |
Alan Birch
|
Alan Davidson, International Cricketer
|
22 |
1978 |
Brian Tierney
|
Sir John Fuller MLA
|
28 |
1979 |
John Gibson
|
Ross Symonds, ABC TV Presenter
|
23 |
1980 |
Len Phillips
|
William McMahon MP
|
20 |
1981 |
Gordon Turner
|
Chief Superintendent Williams
|
15 |
1982 |
Bob Pilcher
|
PDG Bruce McLachlan
|
13 |
1983 |
Brian Riordan
|
Martin Berthoud, British Consul-General
|
11 |
1984 |
Peter Worthington
|
Professor Gary Simpson
|
17 |
1985 |
Ian Harris
|
Brigadier Gordon Hooton, CBE
|
18 |
1986 |
Bill Brady
|
DG Neil Strongman
|
19 |
1987 |
Frank Foster
|
PDG Bill Kelly
|
21 |
1988 |
Charles Ashford
|
Roger Wotten MLA
|
7 |
1989 |
Steve Dunn
|
DG Dennis Rees
|
12 |
1990 |
Charles Priest
|
George Souris MLA
|
18 |
1991 |
Kerry Bee
|
Roger Wotten MLA
|
24 |
1992 |
Gus Shaw
|
John Anderson MP
|
20 |
1993 |
Bob Kirchner
|
John Anderson MP
|
21 |
1994 |
Simon Lister
|
Councillor Mikie Maas
|
21 |
1995 |
Rudy Zwolsman
|
Ian Slack-Smith MLA
|
22 |
1996 |
Harry Neale
|
DG Rupert Richardson
|
19 |
1997 |
Col Rosewell
|
DG David McIntyre
|
24 |
1998 |
Ian Carrington
|
Phillip Morrice, British Consul-General
|
21 |
1999 |
Hans Allgayer
|
Tony Windsor MLA
|
18 |
2000
|
John Rodstrom
|
DG Garry Johnson
|
22 |
2001 |
Mike Punch
|
John Anderson MP
|
25 |
2002 |
Graham Sanson
|
DG Brian Prince
|
21 |
2003 |
Bruce Higham
|
DG Rick Bowen-Thomas
|
21 |
2004 |
David Torrens
|
Mrs Liz Foster
|
21 |
2005 |
Kevin Edmonds
|
DG Harry Durey
|
13 |
2006 |
Doug Brown
|
DG Jane Bradford
|
21 |
2007 |
David Densley
|
DG Laurie Barber
|
20 |
2008
|
Pat Mayoh
|
DG Ian Dyball
|
20 |
2009 |
Phil Hutchison
|
DG Ken Hall
|
20 |
2010 |
Brian Riordan
|
DG Jo Wilkin
|
19 |
2011 |
Brian Riordan
|
Bruce Tarrant
|
22 |
2012 |
Vince Tydd
|
Charles Priest
|
21 |
2013 |
Kel Walls
|
DG Brian Beasley
|
18 |
2014 |
Kerry Bee
|
Mayor Owen Hasler
|
19 |
2015 |
Welington Sardinha
|
Mayor Owen Hasler
|
22 |
2016 |
Phil Hutchison
|
Mayor Owen Hasler
|
11 |
2017 |
Doug Brown
|
Mayor Jamie Chaffey
|
9 |
2018 |
Kel Walls
|
Mayor Jamie Chaffey
|
21 |
2019 |
Nataniel Gomes
|
Mayor Jamie Chaffey |
11
|
2020 |
Postponed - COVID
|
|
0
|
2021
|
Nataniel Gomes
|
Sarah Mitchell MLC
|
17
|
2022 |
Steph Brown
|
AG Rod Browne
|
9
|
2023 |
Steph Brown
|
DGE Flemming Libner (D1450 Denmark)
|
12
|