Off to the Races: 1959

My father, John McIntyre, took this Kodachrome in 1959. It shows a group of Ford Motor Company of Australia staff and wives attending the Melbourne Cup at the Flemington Racecourse. Third from left is Charlie Smith, and my mother, Betty, is looking sideways in the brown hat. The man in the Homburg hat is "Norrie" Norris, and standing in front of him is his wife Trixie. What you see here is the Aussie version of a "tailgate party" prior to the races. It is still a dress-up affair to this day - click here for photos. View full size.