Tony Read of Taree is the niece of the late Rita Stone, a Taree dressmaker who was one of three women who worked together to create a dress that won the prestigious 1972 Gown of the Year.

Rita died peacefully on Friday, May 31 and family and friends recently gathered to celebrate her life at a funeral service on Thursday, June 6 in the chapel at Manning Great Lakes Memorial Gardens.

A silver thimble presented to Rita 76 years ago by her teacher after completing her dressmaker training is a precious family momento, and Tony says it was used by Rita for many years in the work of creating countless dresses and garments.

Rita's dressmaking skills saw her work together with Taree dress designer, Aggie McClutchey and dressmaker, Joyce Neville to enter the Gown of the Year competition in 1972.

The national competition by the Mannequins and Models Guild of Australia required entrants to submit a gown for judging on the criteria of workmanship, choice of fabric for design, degree of originality, wearability and fashion appeal. Miss Neville did the crochet work, and Rita constructed the dress, the slip and made satin covered tiny buttons for the necklacing. Judging took place at the Savoy Plaza Hotel in Melbourne on July 17, and judges included Sonya McMahon, the wife of Prime Minister William McMahon.

There were 93 gowns submitted from judging and they were sent from all over the world.

"The gown could only have handmade adornments, no feathers, beads or sequins, and Aggie's design consisted of 1400 crocheted daises.

"The design had crochet frills on the sleeves but Rita said it would look better with 'bell' sleeves. Rita had to make the satin underlay and she had to make it so that the heavy crochet pieces flared out instead of falling limp.

"Rita was sitting next to a man from England and they said they would tell each other when their gowns came out. He pointed out his gown and Rita said it was the most beautiful gown, and she said to herself, 'Oh my God, what are we doing here!

"Aggie's gown came out last and was announced the winner. Flash bulbs went off everywhere! Rita said it was the most exciting time of her life.

"The judge said it was the most exquisite sewing he had seen, and Rita said she laughed as she had put it all together on her old treadle sewing machine."

The editor of Fashion Week, Gwenda McBean who attended the event in Melbourne said "the gown from Taree could only be given first place. It has everything. The finish is outstanding."

Rita was raised on a dairy farm at Moto and attended Ghinni Ghinni Public School.

At the age of 14 she had sewing lessons one day a week for four years in Coopernook Hall, then another four years at Belmore Hall. She completed her lessons at the age of 22 and if the teacher was away she would get Rita to teach the class.

Rita also attended many shows, horse races and balls, and on many occasion won 'Belle of the Ball' and 'Fashions of the Field' from making her own outfits. Later in life, many times she was asked to be a judge.

"All the Payne girls were wonderful cooks and in the late 1960s Edna, Ida and Rita opened a cake shop in Solomon's Lane which they ran successfully for a few years.

"Rita's greatest love was for Jack Stone. They married at the Methodist Church in Taree in 1959. Jack died in 1993. In her later years Rita found a wonderful friend in Bill Hampton. Rita's travels with Bill took her to Western Australia and Queensland.

"At age 94 Rita moved into Bishop Tyrell Place.

"Rita had an amazing happy life. Rita was an amazing lady."

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