Much of what you see Elizabeth Paterson wear on race days across the countryside are creations of her very own.
The Griffith based Sonographer has been highly successful this year as she has been many years in the past.
She is excited to take part in fashions on the field and also when she is lucky enough to win, which is quite often.
That excitement of winning as equal to the excitement that Griffith would soon be getting a new hospital.
Elizabeth said, “In my spare time I like to go to country fashions. I’ve just come back from the Melbourne Cup.
“I did a millinery course 24 years ago and ever since then, I just like fashions, feathers and fibres and the whole lot.
“Most of the time I make my own outfits. Today I decided to support Gundagai’s new initiative of doing best suited and I went with a pants suit today (Friday).
“You’ve got to support what Clubs are trying to put in place for people and I thought it was a bit of fun.
“I’ve been really fortunate this year. I try to support a lot of Clubs by designing something different for each Club if I can, but sometimes I just can’t get there and the sewing machine gets a pretty good workout and I’m up pretty late creating new headpieces. If a Club has a different theme, I have to try and get on board with that too.
“Sometimes I have to bring out my old faithfuls if I have to work and that’s a sign of the times as well.”
Elizabeth does plenty of kilometres in her quest to support country fashion and to no doubt compete at a high level, something she is obviously passionate about.
She said, “My motto is have car, will travel. There’s lots of races and my mum who is 83, is a very keen race goer and she’s often the instigator of going to fashions and race meetings.
“Being 83 she has to go up against all the young ones, but she loves race clubs that have a senior’s category or a golden oldie.
“She looks amazing and is pretty fit and agile for her age but still gets around. She gets pretty tired, but she puts in such an effort and she is in the bedroom trying to create an outfit for that race meeting.
“Gundagai is a great race meeting. It’s a really nice close knit community and there’s a really big crowd here today (Friday) and it’s nice for people to come out and have a little sweep and a relaxation.”
