Cherished clients,

Queensland’s Winter Racing Carnival kicked off in May at the Gold Coast Turf Club for the running of the Prime Minister’s Cup, and to celebrate the big day, Women in Racing held a pre-cup lunch on Thursday 6th in the committee room.

WOMEN IN RACING LUNCH

Hosted by directors Baslyn Beel and Jennie Bartels, the Gold Coast’s golden girls were out in force wearing their best race track finery for the lunch. As always, the Turf Club’s committee room was packed with 100 women eager to hear trainer Gillian Heinrich’s tips for the Cup and to enjoy a delicious three course lunch washed down with copious amounts of champagne. Really, who wants to work when there are distractions like these? Actually I do - I carried to the Turf Club several orders for Gold Coast clients needing their hats for Saturday.

Dale, Glenda Newick and Patricia Balmer at the Women in Racing lunch

Me again with lunch guest Nino Goncalves

Meredith McMaster looking gorgeous at the PM’s cup lunch

PRIME MINISTER’S CUP

Cup day was gloriously sunny – an absolutely perfect day! Fashions on the Field was sponsored by Harbourtown this year, and the event attracted a large number of entries… including me.

I hadn’t entered on the Gold Coast for quite a few years and thought I’d see if the ‘old girl’ still had it and, to my surprise, it seems I still do and actually made it to the finals of both Best Hat and Best Dressed which was an enormous thrill. My lovely headpiece of black felt and purple silk was made by Ann Boyle and my coat-dress by Maticevski.

The winner was Dayna Wandrey of Brisbane wearing a frilly, diaphanous cream blouse and vintage inspired wool skirt topped with a red felt beret. She looked sensational!

Dale and Lauren Walker: ready for the fashions

Di Holt, Natalie Dawes and Alanna Loveless

Margaret McLean

Best Hat finalists

Em Bodinar from Melbourne at the Gold Coast Turf Club

Glenda Newick on the catwalk

Desley Walker, Lauren Walker and Sandra Robson in the Members Bar

Dale in the Fashions on the Field (photo courtesy Ross Stevenson)

DOOMBEN CUP

Two weeks later I enjoyed a fabulous lunch in the West Terraces restaurant on Doomben Cup Day with my husband Jim, Ros and Geoff Tilse and Megan Gore-Jones. Managed to get in some serious punting and also found time to visit the Family Fashions on the Field which, for the first time, was held under the trees near the stables. Hmmm? It’s always fun to see the children on stage as you never know how they’re going to react to the crowd. My friend, milliner Karen Valentine, her husband Marc Gazsik and their children Ava and Ryan took out third prize. They are a lovely family. Chatted with Liz Cantor and Jillian Whiting of Channel 7 who MC’d the event.

Dale with Jillian Whiting (photo courtesy Ross Stevenson)

Family Fashion winners

With Geoff Tilse and Jim Olsson

Dale, Megan Gore-Jones and Ros Tilse

The Gazsik family – third in the fashions on the Field

HATS AND HIGH TEA WITH PETER JAGO

On 3rd June, the Brisbane Racing Club hosted a Hats and High Tea on the Rooftop Terrace at GOMA. An old mate and former Brisbane boy, now a renowned Melbourne milliner, Peter Jago, unveiled his styling tips on how to choose the correct hat for your face shape. No mistake, he knows what he’s doing and thoroughly delighted his audience of frocked-up females with his witty observations. Sofie Formica wore one of Peter’s fabulous headpieces whilst compeering the event. And yes, I do have some of Peter’s stunning hats in stock.

Sharon Lenton of Sydney with Lorraine Dickinson

Peter (great hat!) discusses the perfect hat for varying face shapes

OAKS DAY

As well as being Brisbane Racing Club’s special lunch guest, Peter Jago was also engaged to judge fashions on the Field on Oaks Day, traditionally ladies day. In my opinion, this is one of the best social events of the racing calendar.

For some years I have been fortunate enough to be invited into the marquee hosted by the sponsor, the Treasury Casino and Hotel. The theme this year was a Mediterranean affair and what a feast of food, fun and frolics it was! Tables groaned with mountains of seafood and pasta dishes followed by desserts from Italy and Greece. The Moet flowed whilst the Greek band had many of the men dancing to Zorba. My daughter Fleur Cowlishaw and I only left the marquee long enough to watch the fashions (Fleur made it to the finals) and then it was back to the bacchanal. We spent the afternoon with dear friend Cecilynne Jurss and her brand new fiancé, Pat Welsh who always gives us good tips - we’ve never gone home with empty pockets after a day at the track with Patty! Once again his, tips were excellent and he introduced us to Mark Beretta, sport journalist on Sunrise and an all-round nice bloke. Thanks again Katie and Lynsey, the Treasury’s marketing whizz kids.

Fashions on the Field finalists

Judge Peter Jago announces the fashion winner

Dale with Melbourne milliner Richard Nylon, and yes, I also stock his hats

Cecilynne Jurss and Fleur Cowlishaw in Treasury Marquee

With Channel 7’s Pat Welsh and Mark Beretta

Lynsey Seager of the Treasury Casino and Hotel

STRADBROKE DAY

The following Saturday, Stradbroke day, was spent in the Style Magazine Fashion Marquee with my friends Julie Phillips and Patricia Balmer. Always considered the biggest race day in Brisbane, it seemed as if the city’s entire population was at Eagle Farm. Spotted many of my clients in the fashion precinct, including Natalie Levien, who won Best Dressed Lady in the fashion Marquee, wearing a custom made grey silk top hat by Elizabeth R which matched perfectly her divine Prada bag and shoes and Armani blouse and skirt. She was elegance personified.

Choosing a winner in the fashions on the Field was difficult as the standard was very high – there were so many beautifully dressed women. Eventually the judges chose my particular favourite on the day, Ashleigh Robson, whose entire outfit, including hat, was made by her grandmother, Sandra Robson. Runner up was Milly Ziesemer and third, looking lovely in pink and black was Lauren Walker, a former multiple winner, who had not entered for several years. Lauren went on to take out first prize at the Ipswich Cup the following Saturday.

Dr Matthew Casey and Tricia Molachino of Townsville

Mildred Ellwood, fashion finalist

Shauna Dennett, Cliff Dean and Ashleigh Robson

Fashion judge, Laura Stead of the Courier Mail

Fashion finalist, Hal Salter of Melbourne

TALKING HATS – QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY

As part of the exhibition ‘Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones’ a series of Sunday afternoon lectures were conducted in the gallery courtyard. This meant the public could sit in the sun, have afternoon tea and listen to some fashionistas, stylists and milliners discuss hats. On 13th June The Hat Box had a go and rather than have me waffle on I thought it would be a sight more informative and interesting to corner a couple of guest speakers with actual workroom experience. In all honesty, there really aren’t many left but Shirley Howie and Elizabeth R put up their hands - both were formally trained and both have a bunch of talent and wealth of knowledge that is embarrassing today. Shirley, a milliner for 60 years, recounted her life as a young woman being trained and Elizabeth R, a milliner for 50 years, recounted her career which, incidentally, included winning the best hat award in the Melbourne Cup several years ago.

In my opinion, both delivered entertaining and informative yarns to a receptive audience. There were so many questions that I had to eventually bring things to a close so the gallery staff could go home. It was a wonderful experience.

Watching Shirley entertain the audience

Shirley wows the crowd

TATTERSALLS WINTER STAKES DAY

Tatts Day on the 26th June is generally the last day of the Brisbane Winter Carnival and the day the club holds its Fashions on the Field. This year the prize was a trip to Hong Kong. Before the judging however, Tatts hosted a delicious seafood buffet lunch in Past the Post marquee.

My fellow judges were Catherine Sheehy and Paul Barry and, for the first time, Andrew Byrne and Amanda McLeay from Channel 10. Carolyn Donovan compered the event in her usual charming and professional manner. Overall winner was Shauna Dennett, in a black and cream coat dress accessorised with an orange hat and bag. Runner up was Jessica Kanowski in a 1940’s inspired ensemble and Best dressed Gentleman was Chris Sullivan..

My thanks to Sarah Sherlock, Tattersalls Club Marketing Manager, who organised the entire afternoon.

Marketing Manager Sarah Sherlock with Dale

The judges at work: Paul Barry, Andrew Byrne, Me, Amanda McLeay and Catherine Sheehy

The Fashion finalists

The winners: Shauna Dennett, Chris Sullivan and Jessica Kanowski

Catherine Sheehy, Carolyn Donovan and me

Sandra Robson, Dale and Patricia Balmer

Carolyn Donovan at work

With Fashion winner Shauna Dennett

Shauna Dennett with jockeys

Next time I write, I’ll bring you news and photos of the Townsville Cup, the Valentino exhibition and functions, and brace yourself for The Hat Box show at Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival – it’s a goody! Life is never dull!

Ciao for now

Dale