RETURNED SERVICES ANNUAL BALL AT GONVILLE

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 June 1950, Page 9

RETURNED SERVICES ANNUAL BALL AT GONVILLE

Gonville Town Hall presented a bright spectacle last night when many people attended the Wanganui R.S.A. annual ball. Included in the dance hall decorations were many posters and paintings—the work of Mr. C. Cornish—and coloured scenes round the walls, of El Alamein. Suva, New Caledonia, and other places familiar to ex-service-men. The posters depicted army life and terms every soldier became familiar with in his dealings with the Italian people, including the most common one every returned man noticed- that official sign ‘ ‘Out of Bounds to Troops.” Over the door leading to the claret cup room (which also had posters round the walls) was the sign “Sheapard’s Hotel.” Flags and greenery made extra decoration in the hall, which had festoons of tiny coloured lights. Fairy lights twinkled from the attractively arranged greenery, which formed a background on the stage. The tables in the supper room were decorated with Iceland poppies. The host and hostesses were Mr Harvey Gilberd, president of the R.S.A., Mrs Gilberd and Miss M. Merewether, president of the Women’s Section of the R.S.A. Mrs Gilberd was gowned in apple green taffeta with overdress of black net, and wore a fur wrap. Miss Merewether’s raspberry pink frock had a draping in mushroom shade from the shoulder line down the back and forming a bow below the waistline. The committee responsible for the organising and arrangements comprised Messrs M. G. Wadey (chairman), A. D. Robbie, J. Tovell-Soundy, Jack Hodge, Allpress, Ron Russell, E. O’Keeffe, Holly, and Mesdames H. Gilberd, J. B. Donaghy, C. B. Rountree, R. L. Hains, and Miss M. Merewether. Mrs Donaghy chose a frock of black crepe attractively trimmed with embroidery and sequins. Mrs Rountree wore a full-skirted frock of lime green cloque with bodice embroidered in white, and a fur wrap. Mrs Hains’ frock was of champagne silk net over satin with quilted effect on the bodice and descending down the sides from the bodice. The duties of M.’sC. were capably carried out by Messrs J. Hodge and E. O'Keeffe, who were garbed in battledress. Members of the orchestra were dressed in Egyptian galabeahs. Several floor shows included the “can-can” dance by senior pupils of the Trevor Hunter School of Dancing. A tango and Hawaiian dance were given by Misses Rona Wilson and Audrey Smith, accompanied by three guitar players, one of whom sang the song “Jealousy.”