Tag Archives: meetings

Sunday events

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We’re having two events tomorrow (Sunday 23rd)! First up is a trip on a vintage train – Lachlan Valley Railway have a 1920s Rail motor train in Armidale this weekend. Four of us went in steampunk outfits on the dinner trip to Walcha Road pub last night – heaps of fun! Tomorrow, about 6 of us will go in costume on the 11.50am shuttle to Uralla and back. We’ll be in Carriage CPH 25, in the back end – there are still seats left in that carriage, so anyone who’d like to join us can book tickets here.

I’m planning to wear a 1920s ‘One hour’ dress; others might be going in 1920s, 1950s, or other historical fashions.

The train returns to Armidale around midday. We’ll probably have some lunch afterwards, and then from 2pm we’re having a making get-together at the Historical Society’s rooms at 114 Faulkner Street – on the corner with Cinders Lane. Bring along ideas, questions, projects for heaps of costuming discussion and inspiration!

Here are a few photos from the train trip yesterday evening. Katinka and Pete are Steampunk enthusiasts and always look great, so Jane and I (Bron) decided to go in Steampunk style, too.

Jane and Bron at the front of the train on the platform at Armidale Station
Jane and Bron at Armidale Station
Jane, Bron, Katinka and Pete in front of the train at Walcha Road Station
L-R: Jane, Bron, Katinka and Pete – at Walcha Road Station
The vintage train at a small rural station, at dusk, with dark clouds overhead.
At Walcha Road Station, ready for the return home.
Pete and Katinka wearing Steampunk hats and outfits inside the vintage railway carriage.
Pete and Kat on board the train.

Spring events

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We have a few events coming up in the next month!

To help prepare for them, we’re having two costume-making sessions in October – on Sunday 21st October, and Sunday 28th October, both from 1.30 to 4.30 pm, in the HIstorical Society’s rooms at 114 Faulkner Street Armidale (the old Dumaresq Chambers building on the corner with Cinders Lane). Come along and bring what you’re working on, or ideas for what you’d like to make!

Fashion plate from 1915 with a woman in a pink dress, and a listing of event dates

Afternoon tea at Saumarez homestead

On Sunday, 4th November, we’ll have afternoon tea at the beautiful Saumarez Homestead, near Armidale Airport. Do dress up in historic costume if you have one, or a spring frock or dashing waistcoat. I suggest that we meet at the cafe there at about 1.00pm, which gives us time to have afternoon tea and a wander (and photographs) in the gorgeous gardens, before those that wish to can join the 3pm house tour. Please note that Saumarez has a limited menu, which does make afternoon tea inexpensive, but if you have dietary restrictions you may wish to bring some food for yourself. There is an additional charge for garden entry – $8, although we may be able to get a group price – and if you’d like to do the house tour the cost is $15 for both the house and the gardens (although again we may be able to get a group rate.) But it is a stunning late 19th century house, beautifully kept, and worth it!

Centenary of the WW1 Armistice

Sunday, 11th November marks the centenary of the Armistice that ended the fighting in the First World War, and there will be three events in Armidale on that day. The RSL is holding two services – a Church service at 7.30 at the Anglican Cathedral, and a Remembrance Day service at about 10.15 at the War Memorial Fountain in Central Park, finishing in time for the traditional minute’s silence at 11am, the time at which the Armistice was signed and Germany formally surrendered to the Allies. Several of us are planning to attend at least the service in the park, dressed in civilian 1918 costume, out of respect for those who endured the long years of the war, and those who fell.

The third event will be the opening of an exhibition at the Armidale Folk Museum, which will look back at the Armistice and WW1 and explore the themes of Sorrow, Celebration and Social Change that the war years brought to Armidale and district. The news of the signing of the Armistice reached Armidale at about 8pm on the 11th November 1918, and such was the relief that there was a huge and impromptu celebration in Beardy Street – people simply poured out on to the streets, with musical instruments, processions, flags. The celebrations went on until the small hours of the morning, and the following day was declared a public holiday. Some of us will also dress up/remain dressed-up in 1918 fashion for the exhibition opening, which may be around noon – time to be confirmed.

If you’d like to take part in 1918 fashion in the Centenary events, let me know, and I can provide some resources.

August meeting – costume making

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Our August meeting will be a making session. Bring along your current costume project to work on – there are some tables for cutting out fabric or patterns and some power points if you want to bring your sewing machine. If you let me know what you’re working on or need help with, I may be able to bring some resources/books from my collection. For those going to the Outlander Gathering in Glen Innes in October, I’ll bring along some pattern ideas (and maybe an outfit-in-progress!)

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.

Date and time: Sunday 26th August, 1.30pm to 4.30pm

Venue: The Activities Room in Kent House, 141 Faulkner Street Armidale. If you come in from the front, go down the side veranda to the second last door. You can also park behind the building and come in via the veranda.

Cost: a contribution towards the room hire will be appreciated as the rates have quadrupled this financial year. We’re looking for a longer-term solution.

An eighteenth century painting of a group of women sewing around a table

July meeting – preview of Museum costumes

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Our July meeting will be at the Armidale Folk Museum. Bronwyn has been volunteering there, working with some other volunteers on documenting the museum’s costume collection. For this session, she’ll show a number of garments and discuss their time, their construction, and who might have worn them and where.

An 1890s bodice in cream silk printed with a delicate green floral design.

A printed silk bodice, with cream lace, dating from the 1890s. The bodice has a matching skirt and Swiss waist.

Most of these costumes have not been on display for many years, if ever, so this is your chance for a special preview of some hidden treasures. We’ll also look at some construction and details you can’t see when an outfit is on a mannequin, and discuss underpinnings and accessories.

Bodice of a silk satin wedding dress, circa 1910-1912

Bodice of a silk satin wedding dress, circa 1910-1912

Meeting details: Sunday, 29th July, 1.30-3.30pm, at Armidale Folk Museum, corner of Rusden and Faulkner streets.

Note: Please dress warmly – the heating in the museum isn’t great – and wear comfy shoes, as we’ll be standing around a table for the session. Please also note that the museum doesn’t have a toilet, and the nearest one open on Sundays is in Central Park.

Afterwards we’ll likely adjourn to somewhere else for a warming cuppa!

 

June meeting – High Tea

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For our June meeting, we’re having a High Tea. Do come along in costume – any era welcome! Delicious food, good company, a very brief meeting to officially form the costuming group, more food, and maybe some dancing. Plus gorgeous historic costumes.(Don’t have a costume yet? Dress to feel fabulous!)

Cost $5, includes afternoon tea. Beginner and experienced costumers very welcome. Please RSVP here or on the Facebook Event page so that we make sure we have enough food! There will be some gluten-free options.

We will be having a brief meeting during the afternoon to officially form the association – the advantage of becoming an association is that we can affiliate with the Australian Living History Federation and access their insurance scheme so that we can run events, workshops, displays etc. We’ll need office bearers – President, Vice-president, Secretary. Treasurer – and committee members, so please do consider if you’d like to nominate and be involved. Ultimately, I think it will be wise to incorporate the association, which limits the personal liability of members if something goes wrong and the group gets sued. It’s not particularly difficult to become incorporated, but there are some processes to follow.