Hatful of hilarity at Ōroua Women's Club Melbourne Cup function
Members of the Ōroua Women’s Club donned a variety of creative headwear for a Melbourne Cup party on Tuesday afternoon.
If there was a little more revelry than normal at the Feilding social club, it was because it was the first time in four years the function had been held, owing to the interruption of Covid-19.
About half of the club’s 136 members gathered at The Feilding Club, enjoying canapés and bubbles as they anticipated the big race as well as their own hat contest, which awarded prizes for the most creative invention and most stylish commercial hat.
A pillar of gold, Hilary Cavanagh, known as Hils, stood out with a stack of crowns that would normally be adorned by players in the card group she hosted (who, naturally, played Five Crowns).
She was also looking on the money with her sweepstake ticket for Vauban, a race day favourite. Alas, Without a Fight came home strong to claim a rare Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double.
Christine Ingram found inspiration in the garden for her black-and-white headdress.
“It’s the black plastic that you tie the roses to. And this is something from a dried arrangement I used to have,” she said, referring to the flax-like component of her fascinator.
Ingram said there was something on almost every day at the club, be it card games, book clubs or a guest speaker.
Julie Beauchamp said she was trying not to be noticed, but her bright lime shower-puff-like headpiece suggested otherwise.
She was at a loss to describe the inspiration for the florescent bloom, joking it was important to pick colours that went well with one’s skin tone.
“It’s a bit of an opportunity to dress up and have a bit of fun, which is nice.”
Beauchamp said there were some very serious punters in the room, but also many who were definitely not so serious.
The Ōroua Women’s Club was established in 1955, and for the past decade has leased space at The Feilding Club.
Past president Ros Meads said that while it was a social club rather than a service organisation, members did fundraise each year for a cause, most recently Manchester House.
The women enjoyed regular catchups including a weekly cards afternoon, a monthly drinks evening, and an active garden group and book club.
Jubilant jockey Mark Zahra won his second successive Melbourne Cup when he made the correct choice to ride Without A Fight in the great race.
Winner aboard Gold Trip a year ago, Zahra opted to shift to the Caulfield Cup winner as Without A Fight became the first since Kiwi-trained Ethereal in 2001 to do the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double in the same year.
Trained by Anthony Freedman and his son Sam from the famous Australian racing family, Without a Fight stormed home to win the 3200m, A$8.4 million feature easily, paying $8.
- Additional reporting by Stuff reporters.
