Q&A with the Pilbara Regional Heat Winner
Q&A with the Pilbara Regional Heat Winner
The WA Country Cups Fashions on the Field ‘Pilbara Regional Heat’ was held at the Port Hedland Ladies Day on Sunday, July 23.
31 ladies travelled to Port Hedland from all over the State to enter the Fashions on the Field, for their chance to score a spot in the WA Country Cups Fashions on the Field Final.
Kelly Bell was the lucky winner of the Pilbara Regional Heat, followed by Sophie Morton as first runner up and Ainslie Jackson as second runner up.
Ms Bell will now go on to compete in the WA Country Cups Fashions on the Field Final to be held at Perth Racing on Saturday, December 2.
The winner of the Final will receive a for a trip for two to London to attend Royal Ascot with Motive Travel, $10,000 spending money thanks to TABtouch, and more!
WA Country Cups caught up with Ms Bell to talk about country racing and racing fashion, as well as the upcoming final, here is what she had to say:
1. What do you love about country racing?
I’ve always loved the way country racing brings together a community, and gives everyone the opportunity to dress up, or dress down, and enjoy being part of something bigger than themselves. Some of my favourite memories of living and working in the Pilbara are from country race meets – nothing quite tops a weekend at the Marble Bar Races.
2. How long have you been going to the races for and what are your favourite memories?
I have been going to the races for about 12 years. I am originally from rural Victoria and first went to a country meet about 2.5 hours from my hometown when I was 16. Since then, I have been to dozens of meets, essentially because it was part of my job as a regional journalist to report on them. I guess I took a gonzo approach by getting involved, and became quite good at picking winners based on which horse had won recently at Roebourne, Hedland, Marble Bar or Broome.
Some of my favourite race memories are from the Marble Bar Races – since the death of Pilbara helicopter pilot Ross McDowdell two years ago, myself and a group from Yarrie Station have run the annual mixed breed undies race in his honour. It probably sounds crazy to people not from the Pilbara, or those who haven’t been to a country race meet, but it is an important part of community, of connection to other people, and to keeping up tradition. At the race meet only months before his death, Rossy Rotor and I were Belle and Beau of the Marble Bar Race Ball, and I have such fond and hilarious memories of him dragging me around the race course the next day for dozens of photos.
Another memory that makes me smile, is watching my former colleague/housemate and close friend win Fashions on the Field at Hedland Ladies Day in 2015 – it was so lovely to see someone who wasn’t overly confident and had been super nervous about getting up in front of a crowd, take away the crown. I remember our whole office screaming when the postman finally delivered her dress at 4pm on the Friday before – we had given up hope that it was ever going to make it to Hedland in time for Sunday’s event.
3. Why do you enter Fashions on the Field?
I guess I have always been interested in Fashions on the Field – even when I was a 16 year old at the Dunkeld Races in rural Victoria, I remember wanting to enter but being too scared to sign up.
When I first moved to the Pilbara, I was picked for the Fashions on the Field competition and I was really surprised – back then, you had to be selected and I can guarantee my thigh length dress was not ‘race standard’ but the judge told me “you’ve made an effort, have a number”. I remember being so nervous I could barely walk up onto the stage.
My interest in racing fashion really kicked off in the aftermath of a long-term domestic violence relationship. Every aspect of who I was had been eroded away, and I needed things to strive towards, to help find myself and my confidence again. There were two main things I set my mind to; one was applying for a place to study medicine, and the second was taking part in the 2015 Hedland Ladies’ Day Fashions on the Field competition, and giving it a real shot by taking the time to put together an outfit that represented my style, and met the required standards.
I know that may sound like a strange thing to decide to do…but to me, Fashions on the Field is about more than just a ‘fashion competition’. It was, and still is about having enough belief and confidence to get up in front of a crowd, while being proud of who you are as a person. I also love how it allows each woman to express her creativity and style, and to be proud of the outfit they have put together – that takes guts, and the impact it has on someone’s confidence shouldn’t be dismissed. In my case, I am also incredibly proud to wear the millinery of a great friend – Amanda Smith – and to know that my sister and friends have all contributed their opinion towards an outfit. I think FOTF is about getting involved in community, connecting with other people, and appreciating how personality can be expressed through fashion.
4. Describe your style?
The first word that comes to mind is quirky – but it probably isn’t really that out of the box. I enjoy doing my own thing when I have the opportunity to dress up – such as wearing a ball gown with a head piece made from Emu Export cans and spinifex for a Pilbara themed ball, or wearing this bright silver Bowie-inspired jacket and knee high boots that totally clash together but that I love anyway. Since returning to study at uni, my style has morphed into a comfort wardrobe of jeans, shorts, t-shirts, scarves and lots of playsuits – but I still have the tendency to live a little outside of the box by wearing black and white checkered pants with a bright orange blouse to placement. I’ve also moved towards a more ethical stance on fashion, and try to find anything I need on Facebook buy and sell pages, eBay or Gumtree – you’d be surprised what people are selling, and this motto fits with a student budget.
5. What tips do you have for ladies entering Fashions on the Field?
Know the recommendations around dress length etc but use it as an opportunity to express your style and personality. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who wins, if you had the confidence to get up there and show off your outfit, then you’re pretty fabulous in my eyes. And if you’re not sure about something, consult your friends – my sister got into FOTF after I first became involved in Hedland, and so did some of my friends. Being at uni now, I don’t get to go to the races very often, but I love being involved when others are planning what they are wearing to a meet.
6. What are some of your favourite things about the Pilbara Region?
The people, the community and the weather. I’m a big believer that in life, you find your place when you find your people. And that’s how Ï feel every time I get to go back to Hedland or Marble Bar or any of the surrounding areas. It may be the middle of nowhere, but our communities are filled with creative, inspiring and beautiful people who will pull together and make you feel loved, no matter where you come from or who you are.
7. What does it mean to you to be going to Ascot to compete in the final?
To be honest, I am a bit shell-shocked. I didn’t ever anticipate winning or having the opportunity to go to Ascot – I’m definitely no hot shot in the world of Fashions on the Field – it’s a good day if I wear makeup to uni! But I feel very grateful to have the opportunity to represent one of my favourite places in the whole world, and to show off an outfit that my sister and friends helped to pull together at the last minute.
8. Is there anything you’d like to add?
I have a rare genetic condition that means I have had surgery twice on my left eye because of ptosis, and whenever I move my mouth, my left eyelid flickers. It is something that I have been unconsciously conscious of my entire life, and people often ask about it – at the races on Sunday – someone said to me “you still have that weird eye flicker, why?” I notoriously avoid making eye contact with people, especially when I’m eating – entering Fashions on the Fields has taught me to keep my head up and not look down all the time.
The WA Country Cups Fashions on the Field
The WA Country Cups Fashions on the Field is a state-wide racing fashion competition, open to fashionistas from all over WA, and consists of nine regional heats held at major country race meetings across the State.
The winner of each regional heat is invited to compete in the WA Country Cups Fashions on the Field Final to be held at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 2nd December 2017.
The 2017 WA Country Cups Fashions on the Field will consist of the following Regional Heats and Final:
Regional Heat | Event | Date 2017* |
---|---|---|
Great Southern | Albany Ladies Day | 8 January |
Peel | Pinjarra Ladies Day | 11 February |
South West | Bunbury Ladies Day | 19 March |
Gascoyne | Carnarvon Ladies Day | 10 June |
Pilbara | Port Hedland Ladies Day | 23 July |
Kimberley | Broome Ladies Day | 15 August |
Goldfields | Kalgoorlie Ladies Day | 20 September |
Wheatbelt | Northam Ladies Day | 8 October |
Mid West | Geraldton Ladies Day | 15 October |
Final | WA Country Cups Fashions on the Field Final | 2 December |