Reluctant showgirl a winner to reckon with

By Nicole Williams
PAKENHAM Show’s first showgirl was reluctant to enter the competition.
Ruby Constable (nee Waterhouse) was encouraged to enter the Pakenham Show Miss Showgirl contest by friends, but “wasn’t that keen”.
“At the last minute, I decided to enter,” Ms Constable said.
“I had a nice dress so I thought I’d go in.”
She was 17 at the time and said at that age, the event was ‘exciting’.
In 1958, showgirl contestants were paraded through the show on the back of a truck and interviewed individually, with questions about their hobbies and work.
Ms Constable said there were about 20 entrants and three judges.
Winners were automatically entered into the Royal Melbourne Show, although she didn’t make the finals that year.
She didn’t re-enter the Pakenham Show contest the next year but she did enter the Lang Lang Show Miss Showgirl contest and won again.
This time she made the finals at the Royal Melbourne Show.
Past showgirl Marcia Rook is co-ordinating a meeting between all past showgirls to honour the Pakenham Show’s centenary this year.
The past showgirls and Junior Showgirls will meet on March 19 and will be introduced before the official show opening in the grandstand.
Twelve showgirls will meet on the day and any other past showgirls can contact Marcia on 5941 1352.