Their immediate impact on the new seven years old mining community was palpable. He through his vision for the continued growth and stability of Mount Isa Mine; she for her tangible efforts in improving the lifestyle of women and their families within the infantile township.

A lifestyle which Mrs Kruttschnitt was all too familiar with, as she accompanied her husband to desolate mining sites in Mexico and Arizona, before finally arriving in yet another new country way down yonder in the Southern Hemisphere – Australia. As the new mining executive’s wife, Mrs Kruttschnitt was diligent in her belief that everyone ought to work together to make life more cope able.

And the local female fraternity was very recipient to her ideas on improving their social welfare and support of established organisations such as the Country Women’s Association. Such was her influence that a ‘ladies only’ social club was formed to extend friendship, guide women in the social graces of the day and provide a little refinement in the arts while importantly providing a venue for mixed social entertainment.

The new venue and organisation was named Marie Kruttschnitt Club, in her honour. Situated within the confines of Hilton Hall, long since having made way for the original open cut mine, the Marie Kruttschnitt Club quickly gained momentum as ‘the’ ladies social club in the community.

As one scribe wrote,”The Marie Kruttschnitt Club is one of the best equipped and possibly the least expensive women’s club in the whole of Queensland.”

He then went on to admonish local women for not taking full advantage of the amenities offered especially its catering options which in 1949 were remarkably cheap, starting at 5/- per head. The Club rooms were described as spacious, tastefully furnished with an Art Deco style and most importantly having free standing fans for the comfort of members and their guests.

It was not long before the combination of stylish amenities and the catering delicacies attracted regular bookings for celebratory functions of all descriptions.

Members were encouraged to put forth their names to act as hostesses each week.

A hostess had many duties including the procurement of flowers from private homes which she would then arrange into table arrangements for morning teas, luncheons and afternoon teas. In its formative years, the annual membership fee was kept at an affordable fee of £1/4/-.

The Marie Kruttschnitt Club regularly hosted visiting dignitaries, including royalty including HRH Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Gloucester, and Princess Alice of Athlone, to morning and afternoon teas and luncheons.

Hilton Hall was the largest venue in Mount Isa in which to hold balls and large scale dinner functions for which the ladies of Marie Kruttschnitt Club excelled in their catering duties. A number of the early feted dignitaries included The Governor General of Australia, Field Marshall Sir William Slim and Lady Slim, The Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. R.G. Menzies and Queensland Governor, Sir Henry Abel Smith and Lady Abel Smith.

But the highlight each year was the visit by the reigning Miss Australia who would address Club members with the latest information on the National Spastic Children’s Association for which each quest entrant was encouraged to raise funds.

Each Miss Australia brought a hint of the latest fashion, as evidenced by her wardrobe, and a refresher knowledge in social etiquette, all of which was the local women devoured with interest.

However, never let it be said that Club members did not know how to ‘let their hair down’ and dance up a storm at their regular balls and dances, in step with the Artie Greaves Dance Band.

The Mount Isa Mail reported that the Marie Kruttschnitt Club’s Annual ‘Queen’s Birthday Ball’ as being ‘the most delightful ball to open the social season each year’.

The Club was famous for three annual events; The Queen’s Birthday Ball in June, The Melbourne Cup Day Luncheon in early November and the Christmas Dinner Dance in December.

The Marie Kruttschnitt Club members were also skilled thespians as was evidenced when they took out the major honours at the first Mount Isa Drama Festival with their performance of “Six Wives of Calais”.

But always the Club was synonymous with the genteel functions such pre wedding luncheons, welcome to town parties, fond farewells from the community and 21st celebrations.

Among the young women who were farewelled in the Club rooms, were two teachers, Misses Gayle McGarry and Kearest Jorganson.

Gayle McGarry married into the pioneering Beard family, wedding Peter Beard who was later to become a member of the Queensland Parliament representing the electorate of Mount Isa. And the only recorded christening to take place in the Club Rooms was that of Lester Greaves in 1961, the baby son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Greaves.

As Mount Isa Mines continued to expand their operations during the 1970s it was a sad moment when Mine Side residents were given notice to vacate their homes and move to east across the river to Townside. For decades the Marie Kruttschnitt Club was the hub of the Mount Isa social scene but underlying their frivolity and decorum, the members worked hard to uplift the social status of women in the community by providing a calm and comfortable venue for friendship and personal development.

With her indomitable spirit and foresight, Mrs Marie Kruttschnitt has left her mark on two arid communities in both the northern and southern hemispheres: her home in Tucson, Arizona now a part of Arizona heritage and her contribution to the welfare of the wives and families of the mining pioneers of Mount Isa.

Not to forget the formidable Marie Kruttschnitt Club.Researched and written by Kim-Maree Burton.  

www.kimmareeburton.com  

First published in the North West Star in July 2015. Photos courtesy of MIMAG and North Queensland History Collection