The Hills Victorian Ladies
The Hills Victorian Ladies is one of the new community organisations to add their details to SAcommunity. It has been wonderful to find out more about the group and its founder Jessie Ratledge.
Jessie a skilled dressmaker from an early age found a new outlet for her skill in 2002 when she came into contact with the Victoriana Society of SA. Gradually she built up a wardrobe of some 35 authentic Victorian and Edwardian costumes, each carefully researched to meet the fashion of every decade in nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Jessie continues to add to the collection and to alter costumes to fit her models. Shortly after coming to Mount Barker she was encouraged to put on a nineteenth century fashion parade at the Uniting Church; it was a great success. As a result of the feedback, Jessie and a group of willing helpers and models began give fashion parades to aged care facilities in the Hills. Recently they put on the show in Adelaide as part of History Month, which catered for the aged in Adelaide, their main target audience is the elderly confined in rest homes within the Hills area.
The response of senior citizens is wonderful, some of the costumes, particularly the Edwardian ones, are remembered as something their granny wore. The aim of the work is not just to entertain--and it is entertaining to see this array of dresses from yesterday-year with all their lace, silk and glitter—but to hopefully stimulate memories that have faded through the ravages of age and infirmity. These fashion parades attract donations, which are directed to “Hungry No More,” an outreach of the Mount Barker Uniting Church that seeks to help those that have found themselves in need of physical and spiritual assistance. The group intends to limit its activities to the Hills but will spread its wings further should the call come. The amount of work for Jessie and her helpers to put on each show is considerable as is the care and maintenance of the collection of dresses, for this reason we are only able to do two per month.
- The Hills Victorian Ladies
Interested in Joining Jessie and The Hills Victorian Ladies?
The Hills Victorian Ladies would like to hear from anyone interested in being part of a group using 19th Century clothing, era's ranging from, 1800 to 1912. They are as authentic as possible and made with natural materials Silk, Wool, Linen and Cotton. The group visits Rest Homes, and any other places that would like to see a 19th century Fashion Parade with any donations raised directed to Hungry No More – Uniting Church.
