Hats & Scarves: A Heady Affair is the latest display at the Museum. As usual, the community have contributed hugely with their own items for display. For example, pictured above is just a taste of the many women's hats from the 1950s. Many were stylishly worn to weddings and other special events.
There are caps from old
rugby days and sheep judging and even a cap in the style of
Telly Tubbies. Here is a sneak preview of some of the diverse hats and scarves on show.
A selection of four hats from the
Otautau Volunteer Fire Brigade. These range from the heavy
hardhats worn during fire-fighting as well as a formal
dress hat.
Then there are hats from the Otautau & District Pipe Band: a
glengarry (right) with a metal emblem. The crest has an ostrich with a horseshoe in its mouth and the motto, Sperandum est - It is to be hoped. The
feathered bonnet with plume is probably made of fake ostrich feathers. In the foreground is a
balmoral from a member of the community. The metal crest is of a tree with the motto: Stand Fast.
This is an ornate
Turkish smoking cap. The colourful designs are made of handsewn beads. Smoking used to be an exclusively male activity, and so only men wore these hats. They would retire to a room together and smoke their cigars and cigarettes. The cap was worn to help prevent the smell of smoke getting in their hair.
This handknitted
neck scarf has a clever design. It enables the wearer to secure it by tucking one end through a sleeve in the other end.
And there is much, much more. The display is on until 18 April. We're open Wednesdays and Sundays, 2pm-4pm, and by request. Your comments are always welcome!
As Nelly O'Neill Miss Annie McDougall quite won the hearts of the audience as she acted her important part with a naturalness which carried its own charm, and her solos and duets were rendered with correctness and artistic expression. Harry Lisle, as portrayed by Roy McIvor, was probably the most exacting part in the play; he did not have the camouflage in make-up that assisted some of the others to get through difficult parts. The character was well sustained, and the part played with considerable merit. Seddon Harrington made a capital Major-General Bangs, and both singing and acting, fairly took the wind out of his friends of private life. The fascinating part of "Electra" [goddess of light] was well demonstrated by Miss Moira Renowden, whose costume and crown formed a dream. This actress was a little self-conscious at times, which rather detracted from the rhythm of the part, otherwise it was letter perfect and well sustained. Bob Liddell and Garnet McAnergney, as Patrick McGee and Ah Sin respectively, behind their "make-ups" had a good tie, and so had the audience enjoying their antics. Both carried out their duties acceptably. G Pearson, as "The Rajah," was a gorgeous personage, and brought to bear a dignity befitting his exalted station; he carried a difficult part with ease and acceptance. Rol. Walker, as "Raj," the bold bad spirit, had one of the most difficult parts in the play, and he did it well. It took a lot of energy and sustained effort and not a little histrionic ability to play the part, and the necessary vim and mystery were maintained to the end.
