Twenty Debutantes Presented

In a splendidly-decorated Army Hall, twenty debutantes were presented last month to His Grace the Most Reverend N. A. Lesser, Bishop of Waiapu and Primate and Archbishop of New Zealand, and Mrs Lesser. The debutantes, whose presentation was the highlight of the annual Anglican Ball, entered the hall accompanied by their mothers. Each in turn walked the length of the hall to the dais, where they curtsied to His Grace before taking their places for the offical photograph. After this, each was introduced by her father, and received a memento of the occasion from his Grace, before returning to the hall to join her escort for the Debutante Waltz.

The impressive ceremony was watched by a large attendance of dancers in evening dress. On the dais with Archbishop Lesser and Mrs Lesser were the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs H. H. Barker, the vicar of Gisborne, the Rev. T. V. Pearson and Mrs Pearson, and the vicar of Tolaga Bay, the Ven. Archdeacon A. H. R. Morris and Mrs Morris.

Following the debutante waltz, the young ladles and their partners formed a guard of honour through which the official party entered for supper.

Seated in the picture above, taken by Mayfair Studios, are, left to rights Mrs Morris, Mr Barker, Mrs Pearson, Archbishop Lesser, Mrs Lesser, Mr Pearson, Mrs Barker, and Archdeacon Morris.
The three young ladies standing at left of the official party are (1) Miss Irene Samson, (2) Miss Ngaira Patterson, (3) Miss Gay Whittington. Those at right of the official party are (1) Miss Elizabeth Foster, (2) Miss Mary Donaldson, (3) Miss May Browne.
In the back row, from left are: (l) Miss Geraldine Hankey, (2) Miss Janice Whiteman, (3) Miss Lesley Williams, (4) Miss Judith Scott, (5) Miss Lorraine Cornish, (6) Miss Marcia James, (7) Miss Merilyn Roots, (8) Miss Evelyn (Lyn) Marshall, (9) Miss Jacquelyn Hill, (10) Miss Barbara Short, (11) Miss Regency Blair, (12) Miss Diana Johnson, (13) Miss Wendy Lawton, (14) Miss Dinah Dobson.

Archbishop Lesser addressing the assembly at the ball.

The Cross of Bethlehem, lit by a spotlight, was a focal point in the scene with the debutantes on the dais. In this picture they are Misses Marcia James, Merilyn Roots, Lyn Marshall and Jacquelyn Hill, In front are Mr Pearson, Mrs Barker, and Archdeacon Morris.

Miss Pennie Hill, who trained the debutantes, approaching the dais, and receiving a bouquet from Mrs Pearson.

A few of the crowd watching the ceremony.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 84 : June 15, 1961

Twenty Debutantes Presented