February 5, 2017
A debutante ball with a difference was held at Inverlaw on Saturday night … the debs were seniors and many had made their “real” debut years earlier.
Inverlaw Hall stalwart Oriel Franklin, from Boyneside, came up with the idea of holding a Senior Debutante Ball to provide an opportunity for older women to relive their big night.
But one debutante took the opportunity to be introduced for the first time to “fashionable society”, despite the fact she is in her 80s!
Doreen Kleidon wore the traditional white of a new debutante, and travelled all the way from Chinchilla for the big occasion.
Her handsome attendant for the evening was Matt Emmett, from Toowoomba.
Despite the age difference, the pair cut quite a rug on the dancefloor.
The seven debutantes were presented to South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell and his wife Marion after parading down the hall to the applause of bystanders.
Each debutante was given a long-stem flower and a certificate to mark the occasion.
After the obligatory photos, and cutting of the cake, the Inverlaw Hall attendees settled down to enjoy supper and a night of dancing.
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Raw Video from the Senior Debutantes’ Ball
The seven debutantes and their partners led the dance for the first section, then other dancers join in.
What a beautiful story. So lovely to see these women relive some wonderful memories and create new ones.