The origin of debutante balls was that the woman was old enough to be married, and part of the purpose of her coming out was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select circle. These balls were popular on the Island and held at the Shire Hall in Thompson Ave.HistoricalBlack and white photo of group of debutantes in white gowns with posies, dance instructor and Mrs Leggatt, wife of local MP Sir William Leggatt. Allan Murray was the photographer.List of names of debutantes, dance instructor, dignitary and photographer. Also notes re problems with photos from the night.Charlotte Cleeland's deb photo 1949. also names as above.photograph, charlotte cleeland, debutantes phillip island, allan murray, john claringbold, val spokes, joan westley, ruth grayden, heather burton, gwen jackson, margery forrest, fay redpath, mrs mcadie, mrs dorothy leggatt, verna gawith, eileen jones, mrs anderson

This is a copy of the original photograph - donated by Betty Bradley.Black & White copy of a photograph of a children's fancy dress group in the early 1940's. Following are some of the names of the children. Back Row: Ruth? Humphries, Joy Odlund, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??, Stan Goodall, George Goodall, ??, ??, ??, ??, Pat Barton, ??, ??, ??. Middle Row: ??, Lesley ?, Fay Shrieber, Alan Cleeland, Ruth? Humphries, ??, Coral McLardy, ??, Wally Goodall, ??, Eris Gawith, ??, ??, ??, ??, ??. Front Row: Heather McLardy, Diedre Cleeland, Charlotte Cleeland, Shirley Matthews?, Marie Regod, Verna Gawith, ??, Clarie Loton?, Betty Bradley, Vivian Cleeland, Enid Nelson, Lois Barton, Neville Cleeland, ??, George Regos, ??, Betty Bradley hopes someone can fill in the gaps and says she is not sure which one is Ruth Humphries (put in two places) but thinks it is the one in the top row. celebration, ball, festivities, fancy dress, children

Copy of the original photograph. Original names provided by Betty Bradley. Names were checked by Elly Berryman and her mother, Charlotte Berryman nee Cleeland. 2nd June 2020 Elaine Alexander 4/6/2020Cowes State School No. 1282. (1941). Back Row: Miss Peters, Norman Burton, Neville Cleeland, Bill Davie, Lesley Bain, John Reid, Peter West, Ben Humphries, Alan Cleeland, Kevin Spokes, George Regos, Mr Shaw 2nd Back Row: Isobel Niven, Enid Nelson, Betty Bradley, ??, ??, Heather McLardy, Helen Murdoch, Betty Morrison, Eris Gawith, Fay Schrieber, Lois Barton, ??, Jean Denham. 2nd Front Row: Claire Loton, Charlotte Cleeland, Vivian Cleeland, Marie Regos, Coral McLardy, Shirley Matthews, Dawn Smith, Pat Watchorn, Heather Burton, Ruth Grayden, Deidre Cleeland, Verna Gawith, Pat Smith. Front Row: Gerald Jeffrey, Peter Gerraty, ??, Bill Broadbent, Jim Broadbent, Michael Dixon, Bob Davie, ??. Apologies if names are incorrect or mispelt. Tall boy in back row may be Harry (Peter) Harris.cowes state school 1941, betty bradley