The Koo-Wee-Rup Sun of August 9, 1961 had a report on a ball to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Keast Hall at Cora Lynn.
I have transcribed the article which includes a list of some of the people who attended and even more interesting, to me, a description of some of the dresses the women wore.
50th
Anniversary of Keast Hall
Large Crowd
at Cora Lynn Ball
A chance
look into the old records of the Keast Hall at Cora Lynn revealed that August
4th, the date chosen for the 40 and Over Ball, was also the 50th anniversary of
the opening of the hall.
Such a
momentous occasion could not go un-noticed and last minute arrangements were made to
invite a number of old settlers, as well as many former residents. The ball and
subsequent reunion turned out to be one of the biggest social occasions in the
history of Cora Lynn.
Special
guests at the ball were two of the original committeemen, Mr. T.Walsh who
resides in Warragul, and Mr. W. Porter, of Bentleigh. Well known Cardinia personality,
Mr."Bumpa" Gee was also a guest of honour, as he played the piano for
the first dance ever held at the hall. Another surviving committeeman, Mr. Murdoch
of Koo Wee Pup, was unable to attend and sent his apologies.
Conducted
for the third year, the 40 and over ball is increasing is popularity each year
and, as well as catering almost exclusively for this age group, seems to be
somewhat of a Cora Lynn re-union as well.
Dineen's
orchestra played for the dances which were sprinkled with a liberal dose of
old-time numbers. Mr. Jim McDonald, secretary of the Cora Lynn Football Club,
was MC for the evening. Mr. Matt Garbellini got a loud round of applause for
his harmonica numbers as did Mr "Bumpa" Gee when he was pianist for a
couple of the dances.
During the
evening a circular waltz competition, judged by Mr. Roy O'Shaughnessy of Bunyip,was
won by Mr. and Mrs.Wally Cowell of Nar Nar Goon, from a number of other
contestants.
Important
interlude in the evening's proceedings came when a lovely golden jubilee cake
decorated with 50 candles, was brought into the hall. Mr. Dan Kinsella, Mr. and
Mrs. W.Porter, Mr. "Bumpa" Gee and Mr. T. Walsh all gathered round
the cake for the cutting ceremony.
Mr. Kinsella
said he was just speechless to think that 50 years had past since the opening
of the hall. He said he was delighted to be in the company of so many
old-timers, former residents and friends, to celebrate a most momentous
occasion in the history of Cora Lynn. Mr. Kinsella then read out the apologies
from Mr. G. Murdoch of Koo Wee Rup, Cr. Ray Jeffers, Mayor of Dandenong, and Mr.
Les Jeffers of Geelong, whose father Mr. A.Jeffers was one of the original
committeemen.
Mr. Kinsella
said that, although the district had had experienced hard times it had
developed into a very fine area, largely due to the confidence of the early
selectors, who set to and worked to clear and drain the land. Mr.Kinsella said
that Cora Lynn to him was "in the centre of the Garden of Eden."
Mr. Kinsella
paid tribute to Mrs. Dillon who had organised the ball for the Cora Lynn
Football Club in such an efficient way.
Mr. Tom Walsh expressed his pleasure at
attending such a wonderful function and told several amusing anecdotes of the
old days at Cora Lynn. Mr.Porter also said how much he was enjoying the evening
amongst his old friends.
Who was there
The Berwick
Shire President Cr. Templeton and Mrs. Templeton: Cr. And Mrs. E. Towt; Cr. and
Mrs. J. Fallon; Cr. and Mrs. Wakenshaw; Cr. And Mrs. Dan Cunningham; Cr and
Mrs. L. J. Cochrane; Cr. and Mrs. P., B. Fechner; Mrs. P. Johnson, Melbourne
(cousin of Mrs. F. Egan); Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lawler and daughter Bernadette of
Morland (formerly of Koo Wee Rup); Mr.and Mrs. Jack McClure of Werribee
(formerly of Koo Wee Rup). Mrs. Lawler and Mrs. McClure are sisters of Mr. Tom
Burton of Koo Wee Rup. Miss C. H Egan, Koo Wee Rup; Mrs O'Hehir (snr.) Pakenham
Road; Mrs. Whiteside Koo Wee Rup; Mrs. and Mrs. Bill Rodbur of Frankston; Mr.
and Mrs. Ted Holley; Mr.and Mrs. Kappler of Melbourne; Mr. Dave Harker of
Warragul; Mr. and Mrs.Lindsay Leamon of Drouin (Mrs. Leamon was Phyllis Clark
of Monomeith); Mrs Bill Doherty of Pascoe Vale (former Cora Lynn resident); Mr.
and Mrs Pringle of Lang Lang (Mrs. Pringle was formerly Elva Watson of Cora
jynn). Mr. Steve Watson of Frankston. Mrs. Harvey (formerly Muriel Watson).
Mrs. Boyd of Adelaide (formerly Nellie Marshall of Cora Lynn).
Some of the frocks
Mrs. Frank
Egan wore a deep blue frock featuring an embroidered bodice; Mrs. D. Kinsella's
brocade frock was in green and black tones; Mrs. Wakenshaw wore a pink camellia
as a colour note on her black frock and jacket; Mrs. W. Frawley’s frock was in
vivid ming blue.
Fur trimmed
the collar and cuffs of Mrs. Rodbur's strawberry wool frock; Mrs. Towt wore a
grey fur coat with her long pink frock splashed with deeper pink roses; Mrs.
Les Egan's short frock was of rose pink lace over satin, over which she wore a
fur cape; Mrs. Ted Holley chose olive
green silk faille for her frock; Mrs. Bill Giles (Manks Road) wore a frock of
filmy black and white patterned nylon.
Mrs. B.
Broadbent's frock was in a pale champagne chiffonelle, and featured a floating
scarf caught at the shoulder; Mrs. Jack Sewell's frock featured a shell pink
lace bodice allied to a black skirt; Black embroidered nylon fashioned Mrs. J.Huntingford's
frock; Mrs Eddie Dillon's ballerina was made from vivid pink satin; Mrs. G.
Davis of Pakenham South wore a deep burgandie velvet frock. Mrs. Vin Doherty's
sheath frock was in woody tones of brown and green; Coffee lace over satin
fashioned Mrs. Sil Finnigan's frock. A black nylon ballerina embossed with
sunrays was Mrs. P. Dillon's choice; Mrs. Lawler's frock had a tiered skirt and
was made of black lace over royal blue satin; Mrs. Summers wore a necklet of
crystal beads with her flame velvet frock; Mrs. J. Fallon wore a fur stole with her ink
blue and lilac brocade gown; Pakenham resident Mrs. Jack Brown wore a fur
jacket with her black velvet frock; Mrs.
Matt Garbellini wore a long frock of pastel blue embossed organza; Mrs. Pringle
of Lang Lang wore a floral frock in blue, rose pink and green tonings; Mrs. Duncan of Koo Wee Rup wore pale mauve
gloves with her pure silk taffeta ballerina in deeper violet tonings.
Supper rounded off a wonderful evening, and included many varieties of hot savouries.
