Memento Mori

The family of Mrs Mary Gibson had this card made in memory of their mother, who died in July 1913. The handsome card is gilded and embossed in keeping with the conventions of the time, which were a continuation of the Victorian practices around death and mourning. Strict conventions dictated the length of mourning, styles […]

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Echoes of Elegance

Held on Tuesday 14 July 1914, Narrabri’s Hospital Ball brought together residents from throughout North West NSW, amidst the escalating tensions in Europe and increasing financial strain on the hospital. Mrs. A. B. Bevan, the esteemed secretary of the Hospital Committee whose name is featured on this yellowed dance card, played a pivotal role in […]

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Pencilled In

Twenty-four opportunities to dance were to occur at the I.O.O.F. Annual Ball in 1899, which meant twenty-four opportunities to dance with someone new. A dance card was a tool which meant partners could be pencilled in before the dance or to hurriedly jot down the name of someone found in the moment. When thinking of […]

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Save the Last Dance for Me

This dance card was used by a Miss M. Webb at an event held by the Ancient Order of Foresters (A.O.F.) in September 1900.  The A.O.F. was founded as the Royal Foresters at Knaresborough Castle in North Yorkshire, England in 1745 and exported to Australia in 1840 when the first ‘Court’ (chapter) was established in […]

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