Glen Innes Debutants are getting into the final stages of preparation to make their debuts on October 24.
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It’s a time honoured tradition and this year Halie Elliot, Kimberley Wilkins and MJ Mabbott have been tirelessly working with a small, dedicated committee to see the deb ball make its mark and contribute to the community with a portion of ticket sales being donated to the Glen Innes helipad fund.
The 15 debutantes and partners have weekly practices with Dance Instructor Marcia Summers who has choreographed the debutante presentation dance especially for the evening.
"They are a lovely group of young people who are doing remarkably well learning this dance considering most have never even danced before," Marcia said.
Coordinator Halie Elliot hopes the night will be a special night for the debutantes but said the evening will also contribute to the Glen Innes community through a donation to the Helipad fund.
"I was approached by some of the girls keen to make their debut and given there hadn't been a ball hosted for a few years, thought I would try and get it up and running to meet the demand," she said.
"We wanted donations to go toward something the whole community feels passionate about and could potentially benefit from and the obvious stand out for us was the Hospital Helipad project,” Kimberley said.
The committee have big shoes to fill as the last group to host a debutante ball, for nearly 150 consecutive years, was the Anglican Church Group; which was headed most recently by Jan Sharman, Helen Williams, Kay Arthur and Kimberley's late mother Cathy Faint.
The new committee acknowledge their previous hard work and dedication, along with many other church group hands behind the scenes, as they have left a lasting legacy as to why there are still so many young ladies coming forward wanting to make their debut.
"We are certainly trying to channel this success and carry on the debutante ball traditions while at the same time helping the Hospital Helipad project and making this night one that everyone will enjoy and remember," Halie said.
Tickets are on sale now at the Glen Innes and District Services Club.