Three milestones will dominate the social calendar in Henty this year.
The Henty Presbyterian church, the current church building and the Scottish Debutante Ball will all be celebrated later this year.
The church will celebrate its 100th year anniversary as a sanctioned charge, the church building is in its 80th year and the Debutante Ball will celebrate 60 years.
After having no debutante’s last year, organisers are thrilled to have nine young women ready to take part.
The first Scottish Debutante Ball was held at Henty in 1954 with a handful of dedicated people keeping it going.
Anne Maher was Matron of Honour for 16 years, Ena Willis for 10 and Beryl Meyer was secretary for 30 years.
Since the ball started there has only been three years where it did not run (1959, 1981, 2015).
While the ball celebrates 60 years the church will celebrate 100 years.
The first Presbyterian service in Henty was held on 20 May, 1894 in the paint room of the blacksmith’s shop.
Services were then held in the Public School until the Union Church was built.
There have been 22 ministers shepherding the parishioners of the parish since that time. Preaching centres in the parish are Henty and Lockhart with Yerong Creek and Cookardinia churches being used for special occasions.
Other churches that have been in the parish since that time are Culcairn, Mangoplah, Pleasant Hills, Ryan, and Woodend.
Celebrations will kick off with the Scottish Debutante Ball on Friday 1 at 7.30pm.
Finer details:
Debutante Ball
- Friday April 1, 7.30pm
- Cost: Adults: $20, Family $50, High school students $15, Primary students free.
- Soft drinks available for purchase.
- Tickets purchased at the door.
Celebratory Dinner
- Saturday April 2, 6pm
- Henty Civic Centre
- Cost: Adults: $25, Primary school aged children: $10
- Drinks will be available for purchase at the bar.
- Guest speaker: David Burke (minister from 1979 - 1982)
Celebratory Service
- Sunday April 3, 10am
- Lunch after the service
- RSVP and pay by March 20.
For more information on any of the event or on how to RSVP go to www.hentylockhartpresy.org.au or contact Craig Nicholas on 0412058444 or Di Janetzki on 0488 795405.