Rock Your Frock - What a Smashing Success!

Here's our guest correspondent the lovely Lisa Robey giving an update on the fabulous success of "Rock your Frock"

The sight of a man in a strapless dress and fishnets was the first sign that it was going to be a memorable night and Rock your Frock sure was.  Held on Saturday 15 October, it raised $2,463.15 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

After wearing frocks all month for Frocktober last year and getting some fantastic sponsorship I wanted to do something a bit different this year.  Sure I would wear frocks all month, but I didn’t want to hit the same people up for donations for doing the same thing.  So I decided to combine two of my passions - Frocktober and dance - and create an event.  Thus Rock your Frock was born.

I was determined that every dollar that came in the door would go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, so I set about finding supporters and sponsors.  It is amazing what you can get just by asking, in the end, everything was donated including the venue, lighting, sound and massive range of prizes.

I put together a play list including a range of dance styles and encouraged everyone to come wearing dresses.  On the night well over a hundred people arrived and I’m thrilled to say there were several men attired in a gorgeous array of frocks.  However they didn’t limit their outfits to frocks alone, those boys sure can accessorise with jewellery, stockings, wigs, makeup, wraps and in one case even high heeled dance shoes.

Over the course of the evening a range of items were auctioned, an X-box was raffled and people danced their feet off.  It was a great night that saw some amazing generosity for a very important cause.

Rock your Frock was held in honour of my Mum’s best friend Sue who died of ovarian cancer last year.  It was widely agreed that she would have been thrilled with the night’s entertainment and even more excited by the huge sum raised.

Thanks must go to the wonderful sponsors who made the night such a fantastic success.

A Capital Affair
Angela’s Miche Handbags
Ceroc Canberra
Franco’s of Canberra
Harmonie German Club
Howse Family
HP
K’MOTION Dance Studio
Koko Black
Kokoloco Dance Studio
Salsabor Dance Company
Taliesin’s Muse
The Stomp
Tova Gallagher - Hawkesbury Fitness
Vitality Health Centre

Fabulous Start to Frocktober

Well the first couple of days have been a bit blustery but it's been simply delightful to see the weather pick up and the sun come out.  Makes a girl just want to... frock, really!

What is also delightful has been the familiar faces of our fabulous frockettes as they begin their Frocktober endeavours!

Don't forget to keep an eye on the Facebook group for a range of events that are being held in support of Frocktober by ACT Frockettes!

One of these is a Fashion Parade Through the Ages on the 29th of October!

A fashion parade throughout the ages – in support of Frocktober.

To raise money for and awareness of ovarian cancer. 

Re-live dresses throughout the ages from the 1920s to present, hats included!

All dresses and hats in the parade will be available for purchase through a silent auction.

Date: Saturday 29 October 2011

Time: 10am-12pm

Location: House of Representatives Gardens at Old Parliament House

MCs: 2010 ACT Frocktober Ambassadors Senator Kate Lundy and Member for Canberra Gai Brodtmann MP.

Guest speaker: TBC

Tickets: $40 waged and $20 unwaged

Nibbles and drinks provided.

For more information or to purchase tickets please contact: Annika.hutchins@gmail.com

Hurry! Limited tickets available.

All funds will go towards Frocktober - to raise money for ovarian cancer research.

Hosted by the ACT ALP Young Womens’ Network

FROCKTOBER IS CHANGING

Hi everyone,

We'd like to thank everyone for the amazing support you've shown us here at Frock ACT (formerly Frocktober Canberra) over the last year and in particular for your amazing generosity; we raised $42,000 last year, a huge 37% of the national total. 

However, we've been informed by Frocktober Inc, that Frocktober is changing with new guidelines in 2011 and as a result we will be unable to host any official Frocktober events for our amazing Canberra community.

What we can do is promote your events "in support of Frocktober" - tell us about them, we want to know! 

Are you holding an amazing dance party like Lisa Robey? A Golf Day like MPS? A morning tea? A fashion parade or a ball?

You give us the details and we'll get them out to all the wonderful supporters of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) here in Canberra.

One of the changes that Frocktober Inc is making is the result of our innovation last year in using the Everyday Hero Site to allow donations to be sent directly to the OCRF.  We received so much positive feedback regarding the use of the site to manage online donations and it is wonderful to hear that you will be able to go to http://frocktober.org/ and sign up for Everyday Hero once their site becomes available.

Once again, thanks to everyone for your amazing efforts and ongoing support for this great cause. We're so sorry we are unable to bring you the amazing events we did last year, but you know us Canberrans - we play by the rules!

 

For further information on Frocktober check out http://frocktober.org/ as the big month approaches, and be sure to keep an eye on the blog or on our facebook page for information on how the community of the Nation's Capital is getting involved this year!

Frock On!

Reahn Aitchison, Dr Lucy Bates, Brigid Costello & Amy Moon

-   All committee members will be standing down at the end of October 2011 so if you are looking to promote the OCRF in 2012, please let us know and we'll be happy to handover.

Which Particular Superwoman Are You, Frockettes?

As we mentioned yesterday, Frocktober Canberra HQ is missing a few fabulous Frockettes.  You asked for more details of exactly who we need and here they are!

Super Secretary - We need you! 

As you can imagine, keeping Frocktober Canberra HQ running can be a challenge - we need someone who can document our meetings, manage our correspondence, chase us when we need to deliver, provide occasional support to Amy, our finance officer and Reahn, this year's Chairwoman. 

Is that you? 

We hope so!

Looking for an amazing Assistant Communications Manager (ACM):

Are you down with social media? 

Comfortable writing for different audiences and in different mediums? 

The ACM will assist our current Comms Manager (that's me) in promoting Frocktober Canberra events and messages to the wider Canberra community. 

You don't need to be a comms professional, just good with words and people!

Incredible Jills of All Trades - other's may call you Committee Members, we know who you really are. 

You can do it all!  

From helping to arrange events, collect donations, liaise with organisations, all without breaking a sweat (although there may need to be the odd glass of wine. You've got 50 different ideas and able to help with all of them!  Plus you might write a mean odd set of meeting notes at a pinch.  

We don't need just one of you fabulous Frockettes - we're looking for two!  

Care to help us out?


Email frocktobercanberra@gmail.com if you are interested!

Calling All Frockettes! Frocktober Canberra Wants YOU!

Here at Frocktober Canberra HQ we think it is time for some new blood to join the Committee and we want that to be YOU!

With an amazing year last year, we are now looking to build on bigger and better things, raising more money for the OCRF and generally promoting the Frocktober message to the world!

We are currently looking for frockettes keen to fill the following roles:

Committee Secretary
Assistant Communications Officer
Two Committee Members

You need to be keen, available in the next couple of months and willing to give your all to the fab that is Frocktober.

To apply, please email frocktobercanberra@gmail.com - we're waiting to hear from you!

xx
Frocktober Canberra HQ

Feeling Frocked? Help Us Select the Headline Frocktober Event for Canberra!

Well it's 2011 and Frocktober is fast approaching!  Here at Frocktober HQ, we've been mending seams, shaking out our petticoats and generally perusing the high fashion magazines to see just what we have in store for Frocktober 2011 in the National Capital.

This year Frocktober is all about You! We want to hear about your stories, your events, your ideas and your favourite Frocks! 

With that in mind, we are throwing the question out - what type of event would you want to attend as the premiere event for Frocktober here in the ACT? 

To help with your pre wardrobe preparation, here's some advice from designer Anne Forgarty about the "Care and Feeding of Your Wardrobe"

Tips for keeping your wardrobe in tip top shape:

1. Air out clothes you've recently worn before returning to the closet. Hang on a shower rod in the bathroom for moisture from the bath to revive fabric and take out wrinkles. If inconvenient, hang on closet door overnight.
2. Don't put away a dirty sweater, thinking you'll get around to it in time. The longer dirt has a chance to settle in, the harder it is to get out.
3. Perk up angora and other fluffy knits with an overnight stay in the refrigerator. Put the item in a plastic bag before placing in the refrigerator.
4. Brush skirts after each wearing and check hooks, eyes, snaps, and buttons for prompt replacement. When they come off, the stress of your body movement on the fabric can distort its shape and make for shabbiness.
5. Hang skirts on a clamp-style skirt hanger, only one per hanger. Be sure the clamping mechanism is well covered so that it doesn't dig into the fabric.
6. Never store dresses on wire hangers from the dry cleaner. Use heavier hangers to support your clothes and hold their shape.
7. Keep pastel wools and silks in zippered garment bags to avoid fading from the sun.
8. Hang bare top dresses with the bodice folded inside out over the skirt. Clamp the waistband on a skirt hanger and sling loops around the hanger neck for additional support.

 

Frocktober raises $112, 807.22 Nationally in 2010

The final total nationally is in for the 2010!!!!! 

Quoting Frocktober HQ

"Frocking Big Ones!

Happy Summer! We hope this finds you baring a little more flesh to the world – in a sunsmart manner – and enjoying the final throes of our suddenly-warm-again 2010!

Laverne’s out weeding around the heirloom tomatoes now, but when she got word on the total amount raised for Frocktober 2010, gardening was the farthest thing from her mind…

So, without any further delay, Laverne and The Frocktober team would like to announce: you have helped to raise…

$112,807.22

…for Frocktober in 2010 and your outstanding efforts have aided the search for an early detection test for ovarian cancer.

What an amazing sum.

We would again like to thank everyone who joined in the frockin’ fun this year. It is truly an amazing effort, and knowing that all the funds go directly to the OCRF should give you all something to be very proud of.

Remember, if you donated $2 or more (and gave us your address) the OCRF will send you your tax receipt early next year, well before tax time.

Well, we said it would be quick! Stay tuned for the 2011 campaign to be even bigger again, and give yourselves a collective pat on the back. Now the person next to you. Now back to yourself.

Best wishes for the coming months,

Laverne and the Team at Frocktober Inc."

Here at Frocktober Canberra HQ we are so proud of the contribution made by the entire ACT contingent!  Frockettes and Frockafellas the country over, you did the OCRF proud!    We're winding things down at the moment but keep an eye on the blog and Facebook as we'll be starting to plan early in 2011.  Frock on!!!

Happy holidays from Amy, Lucy, Reahn, Brigid, Ramone, Cara, Laarni and  Claudia!