1978 School Magazine

Remember that this was wartime, and Ted was a f riend of my brother who would have been my parlner if he had not been recently posted interstate. He was in the Air Force. Ted, who had been persuaded to come (probably against his better judgement) had just turned 1B and had recently enlisted in the Army. Thus he was clad in that ghastly, ill fitting, coarsely woven kakhi uniform issued to Australian Privates, and lsoon realised how con- spicuous he was becoming amongst the other partners, mostly 6th form boys f rom Grammar and other schools. At least he had changed to shoes, instead of the great heavy boots he was supposed to wear! I remember only one other Serviceman on the f loor, a sailor named Sam, Claire's cousin. As the time passed and more and more couples and groups arrived they commenced to queue so that they would dutifully introduce their partners to Miss Lilley and Miss Macmillan. We had been carefully instructed to do that as soon as we were to arrive, and before we com- menced to dance. lt was reminiscent of the queue for the royal handshake, and that was indeed all it became after a while. The band played and we determined to enjoy every minute of it. There were Gipsy Taps and Bostbn Two Steps, the Modern Waltz and a Pride of Erin, interspers- ed with Quick Steps and Fox Trots. Every swing and waltz of those Gipsy Taps made the dresses sway and "f roosh" so beautifully and we all thought we looked ab- solutely lovely, which of course we did! We felt akin to newly emerged butterflies. Flowers decked our hair, and plaits were pinned "UP", a watch or two were worn, there were some small broaches, and even a bit of make-up made us feel really daring. The sixth form boarders that day had been dressed and waited on hand and foot by the younger boarders, their hair set in pins and rollers, all kinds of beauty aids of- fered and applied, even a mud pack for one girl so I heard, all in the cause of beauty. For the first hour as a special treat these young boarder faces could be seen peering down through the balcony balustrade. Their white faces were whispering and giggling, as they pointed and commented on us and our partners. Every now and then little scraps of paper would float down, but we ignored those "lower school" people, for this night was ou rs. Now in Brisbane at that time there were two main Danc- ing Studios, J. Sandy Robertson's and Mat. Lominga's where one coulQ learn to dance Old Time, Modern, and New Vogue dahces. A group of us had gone to Lominga's Saturday morning classes so we would dance properly for this special night. By pure coincidence Ted was an instructor at Lominga's, so he was usually the first to get up when the music started and wanted to dance with me each time. I knew the latest steps. Well of course I didn't mind, but as the evening progressed and we swept past the main dais l.could see each time that frowns were creeping over the expressions on the mistress' faces as they sat there. They were deepening ominously for I was dancing with the one partner too long!! I read the danger signs and quickly persuaded Ted to dance with other girls for the next two dances while I then helped more bumble-footed partners around the hall. After all, I had to go back to school on Monday and had my future Grammar life to consider.

Supper time came and ive all crowded into the boarder's dining room, a smaller area than the present spacious room. There savouries, hot cheerios and sausage rolls, as well ab little cakes were available. There were the in- evitable sandwiches of course. Soft drinks and cups of tea made it a beaut supper. Back to the dance floor for 4 or 5 more dances and by then everyone knew everyone else. After all there were only 26 in 6th form, so there were only about 50 in the room. Voices by now were loud and happy, the room was hot and there was a feeling of gay hbandon as the last waltz commenced. lt was traditional that, although in a group, you danced that special dance with your own partner. I remember how I determined to allow all the sounds, atmosphere and colour of the night to flow into me as I whirled round with my super dance. Each time the little band stopped we would clap for more and more. Another encore, and another, but at last Miss Lilley signalled the end had come, and the band played its closing chord. As we collected our capes and jackets, picked up our borrowed evening bags, and glanced around the assembly hall we knew it had been a simply wonderful evening. Moving out through the hallway, with laughing and talking all around me, I realised I would never forget that magical night. And I haven't. Mrs. C.L. Fearnley (nee Sandercock)

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