A “Graduation Pageant and Ball”
Did your school or Deaf Society organise “Graduation Balls” or “Debutante Balls” in the past? These have mostly been replaced by “School Formals” now.
In earlier years, many young deaf women followed the British tradition of “making their debut” at a Debutante Ball. They would wear formal evening dresses and be presented to a dignitary such as the state governor – this meant they were introduced to society and available for marriage! (How times have changed…)
These photographs of a “Graduation Pageant and Ball” are from the collection of Pamela Allen (née Munson). This event took place in Sydney in 1951, and was jointly organised by the Adult Deaf and Dumb Society of NSW and the NSW Institute for Deaf, Dumb and Blind Children.
1951
Young deaf women ready for the Graduation Pageant and Ball. They seem to be posing for the photograph outside the Gordon Davis House Hostel in Stanmore, where most of them may have been living at the time.
Back row L to R: Noleen Edwards (Waltl), Clara Cargill (Williams), Shirley Pinch (Page), Veronica ______, Phyllis Smith, Pamela Munson (Allen), Neta Madden (Horley)
Second row L to R: Louise Vezgoff (West), Fay Morris (Allen), Madge Lyons, Gillian Jankaus (Doherty)
Third row L to R: Betty Cassera (Bonser), Lexie McLeod (Ravlich), Kay Beckman (Goswell), Betty Quinnell, Helen Todd (Goodsir).
Front row: no names provided
