The O’Dea family (Wasleys)
From 1954 to 1965, our family lived in Wasleys, where our father, Wilfred O’Dea, was the school principal of the small two-teacher school. The five girls and two boys spent almost 10 years of their growing up in the town.
Dances, balls and dancing classes were held regularly at the Institute. Bev, the eldest, remembers going to the dancing classes, taught by Brian and Margaret Lines. “The square dance rage had begun and a group of Freeling dancers came to Wasleys and taught for a couple of months in the Institute on Thursday nights (I think). It was actually more enjoyable than ballroom dancing as you didn’t have to sit around waiting for a partner and was quite exhilarating.”
The balls and dances were put on by community and sporting groups. The O’Dea family was one of the few Catholic families in the district, and during our parents’ time, an annual Catholic Ball became a tradition. It became renowned for its wonderful suppers held in the smaller hall next to the main hall, the original institute. Deirdre remembers her mother baking for days beforehand – meringues, little jelly cakes with cream, brandy snaps and little pies and pasties.
None of the O’Dea girls made her debut at the Deb Balls held at the Institute, but Terry, the youngest, was part of a Miniature Deb Ball. In the photo she is on stage with her partner, looking very sweet and pretty.
Paul has only vague memories of all the dances, as he, along with many of the young men, spent much of those nights over 300 yards away from the hall drinking grog! It was a country tradition. The men would arrive back at the hall just in time for the last dance, ready to drive their dance partner home. There were no breathalisers in those days!
