A RECENT donation to C&DHA came from Mr Ian Owen of the Sunshine Coast.
He kindly presented us with two dance cards from 1913 and 1914 belonging to his grandmother Eliza Margaret Guest.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries a young lady would be given a dance card at formal balls and dances to record the names of the gentlemen who wished to dance with her.
Traditionally the last dance of the evening would be kept for a particularly favoured gentleman.
Eliza Margaret, born in Queensland in July 1896, was the daughter of John Grosvenor Guest and Emma Margaret Addison. Her father was Secretary of a committee set up to raise funds for the Canungra Ambulance and 1906 electoral records show he was living at Cedar Creek.
In the innocent era, prior to the horrors of the first World War, November 21, 1913, was the occasion of the Canungra Bachelors’ Ball.
Eliza’s Dance Card was full!
Many names are familiar, belonging to families strongly represented in the District to this day.
Among her partners for the 24 dances, were O’Reillys, Smiths, Jeromes and Days. But one gentleman, Mr William Day, was allocated 10 dances, including the last dance.
William, born in Beaudesert in 1899, was the son of David Day and Sarah Ann Williamson. On May 25, 1915, William valiantly joined the AIF and served in both Gallipoli and the Western Front.
Following his discharge in 1919 he returned home and he and Eliza were married on May 25, 1921.
In 1924 they were blessed with a daughter Beryl Margaret, the mother of Mr Ian Owen.
The couple spent some years in the Wide Bay District, returning South just prior to World War Two.
At 52 years old William rejoined the Army but, on this occasion served on home soil whilst Eliza became the Post Mistress of the Currumbin Post Office, a position she held until the late 1950s.
Eliza passed away in 1974 and her beloved Will followed in 1978.
The dance card is a poignant reminder of their lifelong love and commitment and a wonderful addition to our collection.
