Gala gathering celebrates club's 60th

Bunbury Women's Club will celebrate its 60th anniversary in style with a gala sundowner tonight.

The club started in 1955 and originally hosted functions at president Elizabeth Piesse-Teede's family home until a building on Prinsep Street was eventually bought and expanded.

Mrs Piesse-Teede said the club originally provided a social sanctuary for wives of businessmen, bank managers and retired farmers and gave them something to do while their husbands were out on a Friday night,

"In those days the men went to the South Western Club or the Commercial Club and left the ladies at home," she said.

"A group of ladies decided to start it up, they used to dress up in their long frocks and have cocktail parties.

"The ladies used to have concerts and do crafts and that sort of thing."

Once a club that proved difficult to join, the Bunbury Women's Club now welcomes women of all ages and promises to offer companionship and friendship.

In the past, membership was exclusive to 250 people and many women were left waiting for a vacancy to open up.

Mrs Piesse-Teede said often parents would sign their 20-year-old daughters up just to secure a spot in the elite club.

"In those days women didn't work and of course there was nothing besides the Country Women's Club and the Girl Guides," she said.

Member Carole Connelly said becoming a member of the club gave her an opportunity to form friendships and learn new skills.

"The club filled a gap when husbands went out with their friends," she said.

"It was a way of networking and for ladies who didn't want to go to the senior citizens," she said.