History of Item
Vi Hawkins
These couture pieces were bought and worn by Vi Hawkins. Hawkins was born in 1940 as the eldest daughter of 5 children to John Douglas and Stephanie McLarty from Jerilderie. They owned property, Silver Pines, at Jerilderie. It was sold in October 2000.
She was born during WWII. And, during that era there was also petrol rationing, therefore, there was no bus system to take children the many miles to school. Vi and her siblings were homeschooled during this time. At ten in 1950 she was sent to boarding school in Victoria and finished at 16.
Her parents owned the oldest cattle stud which was sold in 2010. They also bred Marino sheep.
Her brother Lawrence was in the war. Leura Lawrence was Stephanie’s mother. She was born in Swan Hill.
1950s
Good manners and respect for the elders were expected. The Balls were for 18-19 years old, an age where they could begin to be adult. There was always an “old Aunt” who would bring back news / keep an eye on the teenagers. There were many etiquettes and rules. There was always a change of clothes for dinner. A person always had to write letters of reply and thank you. It was also the era of the Pearl necklace. Most places, homes, had a butler especially in the UK.
Vi would often have to travel to Sydney often, where her grandmother lived, to buy the garments and for cultural affairs. Clothes were mostly bought in capital cities due to availability of designers, rather than the seamstresses of local places.
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