The Catholic Debutante Ball is a tradition that, for the best part of a century, has seen so many of Singleton’s young ladies present themselves to society.

It is a night of high glitz and glamour when young women dress in white, floor-length gowns and gloves, curtsey to the dignatories and dance with their partners to the ballroom music of yesteryear as their parents watch on teary eyed.

Sue Harris and Joanne Bailey have been involved in the organising committee for 17 years and current president, Paul Ryan, has held the reigns for 15 years.

Newcomers Joanne and Denis Paget have only been involved for a decade.

The organising committee is much larger and is supported by a parent committee once girls have indicated they want to make their deb.

The night has got to be perfect and with the experience of this group of people, perfection is assured.

According to Sue, it is a night as much for the partners as it is for the debs.

Sue and Joanne Bailey together with Denis teach the dancing with weekly practice sessions occupied with learning ballroom.

The transformation of the debs and their partners over the weeks is one all involved take great pleasure in witnessing.

“Over our many years of training we still feel an overwhelming pride in the transformation,” Sue said.

The decision to be a deb is usually initiated by the young lady and partners are invited to be involved.

While the young lady might be well aware of what she is in for, the formality of the process can come as quite a shock to her partner.

“Some are not so sure that this is where they really want to be and others are not sure that this is what the male species should do,” Sue said of those first dance lessons.

However, after the weeks of practice and when the dance and feet come together, the result really is nothing short of a transformation.

“It is a lovely night, it is lovely to see the families come together and the young ones have such a wonderful time, everyone really does enjoy themselves,” Joanne said.