A history of the annual Debutante Ball

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

 

Year
President Guest of Honour
No. Debs.
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