How we started
In August 1960 a group of seven women got together to help one of them launch a new millinery business. Julia Henning, Beth Windeyer, Sue Crawford, Beryl Martin, Billie Middlebrook, Peg Thew and Mab Walsh said they would model the hats and some ‘fun’ period hats as well. One of the entrepreneurial ladies suggested that these “fun hats would look more appropriate with a gown to match”. This hat parade was a success and at the end of the parade a member of the audience came forward and said, “I have my mother’s wedding dress, would you be interested in having it?” One of the seven friends answered, “Yes please, and what can you tell me about her?” Without knowing it, these seven friends had started the basis of a museum without walls that would become Cavalcade.
An article in the Sydney Morning Herald helped publicise the ladies’ work. This article was noticed by the eminent Sydney department store Farmer’s, and the Head of Farmer’s called Billie Middlebrook regarding a parade. It was the store’s 120th anniversary and they wanted a half hour parade for three days in the dress department. Billie had a ‘business head’ and was quick to reply that the group only did parades for charity and quoted a fee of one hundred guineas, thinking that would stop him in his tracks. Without a pause the Head asked where to send the cheque. At the time many of the seven ladies were involved with Sunnyfield Children’s Home, so the cheque went there. We were later told that Sunnyfield felt blessed when a cheque for one hundred guineas came out of the blue and the money was such a marvellous help. This was Cavalcade’s first big charity event.
Two years later, after much success, on 7th of February 1962, the ladies formalised their activities and so began the organisation now known as The Cavalcade of History and Fashion Inc.
