A frocktastic result

By CLARE FETHERSTON
NEAR the bar a young blonde girl adjusts her ruffled purple mini dress as she makes awkward small talk with the bartender. Just behind her, a middle-aged woman stalks the silent auction table, guarding her bid against potential rivals. The band kicks off with ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ as a sudden strong breeze sends party goers clutching at the hems of their dresses.

It is a cool Sunday afternoon in October. The location is the courtyard of Flint Dining Room in New Acton. The event is the wrap-up party for the month-long charity initiative Frocktober.

An event that combines frocks and fundraising, Frocktober encourages women to wear dresses during the month of October and seek sponsorship for their sartorial efforts. Funds raised are donated to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

Three brave men have arrived, unaccompanied by female partners, at the wrap-up party. Perhaps they think an event with ‘frock’ in the name would be a good place to meet women? If that was this trio’s intention then they are in luck – they are quickly surrounded by a handful of frocked-up guests who do not leave their sides for the rest of the afternoon.

It’s Frocktober’s inaugural year in Canberra, having originated in Melbourne four years ago. Already Canberrans have embraced it.

Amy Moon, Chairwoman of Frocktober ACT, credits the success of the event to its fun nature.

“Ovarian cancer is a serious cause,” she says. “But we have managed to turn that on its head by making Frocktober about fun and frivolity. And it is something that is so easy for people to be involved with. Many of the girls who participated would wear a dress most days anyway. So they were just going about their daily routine and raising money at the same time.”

As the chairwoman, Moon was, of course, an avid participant in Frocktober. She wore 31 dresses throughout October, a different one every day. Moon’s participation was really a team effort as she borrowed dresses from her sisters, friends and work colleagues.

Danielle Post, the presenter of WIN news, is a Frocktober ambassador. She decided to get involved after thorough research into the cause.

“I have learnt a lot about ovarian cancer in the last month and it is a fantastic cause,” she says. “It is a disease that mostly affects older women but it is one that women of all ages should be aware of. The great thing about Frocktober is that it raises awareness as well as money.”

As part of her involvement, Post donned a dress every Friday during October, including during the news bulletin.

“I would have loved to frock up every day,” she says. “But I was new to Canberra and not yet organised enough. I can’t wait to get involved again next year. I will get really organised and wear a frock every day. I will be hitting up all my family and friends for donations.”

Post credits Canberrans with showing initiative in the way they approached Frocktober. “Participants are going beyond wearing a frock every day, I have seen some really unique fundraising ideas come out of this event.”

The obstetrics department at Canberra Hospital held a male only fashion parade that saw the men dressing in frocks, heels and wigs. Two local journalists agreed to wear ball gowns to work once they had raised their target amount.

These innovative Canberrans may be useful next year because it sounds as though Moon might have another initiative in the works.

“I am so relieved to be out of dresses for a little while that I have decided to rename November ‘Pantsvember’.”