The Friday night deb group (back, from left) Kylie Barker (MC), Tyler Marchant, Lacey Mather, Masen Brain, Trinity Larcombe, James Selleck, Jess Dover, Benjamin Baker, Erika Martin, Kiedis Moore, Olivia Marchant, Luke Moodie, Deborah O’Connor and Vicki Ackers; (front) pageboy Jordyn Brain, Kahlia Small, Lyle Ackers, Shané Bothma, Cooper Peers, Jessica Hillier, Will Edge, Kaili Anderson, Nathan Ho and flower girls Matilda and Charlotte O’Connor. Photos by Rhonda Doyle Cobram Photographics.
Photo by
Rhonda Doyle Photographer>
The 25 young couples scheduled to make their debuts to society in November last year were “all ready to go” when the district floods worsened.
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A decision was made by Deniliquin Debutante Ball coordinators Vicki Ackers and Deb O’Connor to defer the event for safety reasons.
Those couples finally got their chance to shine at the weekend, when two balls were held over Friday and Saturday.
“We had nine couples on the Friday night and 16 on the Saturday,” Mrs Ackers said.
“They were all ready to go when we decided to postpone the debs, and so we re-started training in February as a refresher.
“They were all great kids and I am proud of how they performed on their nights.”
The ball followed the same format Mrs Ackers and Mrs O’Connor have been using for the last two decades.
“I am a believer of if it is not broken, don’t fix it.
“The dances were Samba, Charmaine, Cha Cha Cha and Progressive Evening 3 Step.
“The finale dance was a medley of two dances I choreographed, plus a parent dance.
“Both evenings were successful with both groups coming to each others nights to show support to their classmates and friends.
“Both evenings saw Masen Brain escort all debutantes to their partners on the stage.”
Saturday's deb group (back, from left) Max Caruso, Isaac Thompson, Will Doolan, Hayden Doncon, Marcus Moorse, Brodie Park, Harry Way, Harry McIlwain, Will Dudley, Bryce Lea and Jack Caruso; (middle) Vicki Ackers, Deborah O’Connor, Kylah Learmonth, Jorja Perrin, Jasmyn McKenzie, Lucy Pitt, Jarrah Fitzpatrick, Stella White, Phoebe Jefferies, Paige Wall, Hayley Noonan, Ella Birt, Mollie Maher, Masen Brain and Kylie Barker (MC); (front) pageboy Nate Fitzpatrick, Mia Parkes, Logan Leiper, Abbie Blake, Liam East, Bonnie Everett, Noah Bradley, Madeline Weir, Darby Watson, Shae Learmonth, Jack Gavel and flowergirl Ruby Birt.
Photo by
Rhonda Doyle Photographer>
Saturday night’s ball was the last for Mrs Ackers and Mrs O’Connor, who will now retire as deb trainers.
“I did my final deb in Cobram in 2021 and my last in Deniliquin was meant to be 2022, but of course that was extended because of the floods,” Mrs Ackers said.
“When Debbie and I took over we made the ball our own, and we’ve had people from all over tell us they have never seen anything as grand as our debs.
“I was pleased the last evenings of the Deniliquin debutantes that I taught dance for were successful, and were a very happy event for all concerned.
“I want to thank the Deniliquin RSL Club, Fallout Band and Rhonda Doyle from Cobram Photographics for their continued support, each and every year.”
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