Jason Hickford and Pascal Proteau will transform the Balldale Recreation Hall into a work of wonder for this weekend’s annual ball. They are pictured here in Burrumbuttock where they recently decorated its public hall for a vintage fashion show. Photo: Janene Whitty.
The small hamlet of Balldale is set to see some razzle-dazzle this Saturday night (18 October) when its recreation grounds hall gets the magic touch of Pascal Proteau and Jason Hickford for the annual, well, ball.
The ball in Balldale is an initiative of the Our Town Balldale committee, led by Junanne Wilson, and serves a dying wish made by one of its well-known residents Julie Bartlett, who passed away from cancer in 2023.
Pascal and partner Jason moved to the area in 2020 and recalled that the town was well known for its annual ball “back in the day”. It was Julie, they noted, who inspired the event’s revival — now proudly in its fourth year.
Julie was a passionate community advocate whose tireless efforts also included pioneering the world’s first virtual Relay for Life, earning her recognition as part of the Cancer Council of NSW’s Volunteer Team of the Year award in 2020.
“We want to honor Julie’s wish and bring something special each time, something unexpected,” said Pascal.
“Everybody loves a good reason to get dressed up and we’ve found that the people who have come to the ball in the last few years have absolutely loved it, so we are happy to keep putting it on.”
This year’s theme is ‘a dash of white’ and creating a touch of glamour and sparkle is nothing new for Pascal (the creative) and Jason (the heavy lifter) who are becoming renowned for their artistic flair and decorating ability.
Jason and Pascal, pictured here at the 2024 Roaring Twenties themed ball, say the 2025 event takes inspiration from the moonlight and will feature live music by talented band Radio Velvet. Photo: Supplied.
Stored in a shed that rivals a theatre’s backstage, the pair’s trove of furniture, props and decorations is the secret behind Balldale’s dazzling transformations — each piece ready to turn a humble hall into a ballroom of wonder.
“It’s not just about the live music, the food, the instant photo booth, the champagne glass water fountain; it’s about the community, company and creating an experience you might never have had before,” said Pascal.
They have just come off the back of decorating the Burrumbuttock Public Hall for a retrospective fashion parade which wowed the audience at the sell-out event.
Pascal and Jason, who own a landscape gardening business, brought the outside inside for the show and gathered greenery from across the region which was artfully woven into a suspended canopy above the catwalk.
“Each time we do something we try to capture what people might have been imagining and go beyond that,” Pascale said.
Balldale may be small, but it’s earning a big reputation.
Located between Corowa, Howlong and Brocklesby, the town has become a destination in its own right. Thanks in large part to the Balldale Hotel — a country pub lovingly restored and reopened six years ago, it now draws diners from near and far for its warm hospitality and standout rural fare.
“We speak to many people who don’t really know where Balldale is,” said Jason. “But on the weekends, there’s between 120 to 180 people dining at the pub each day; it’s often booked out, and not too many of them are locals!
“The township used to be a lot bigger; there were seven shops, a lawyer, a school, a church, a small hospital but most of those buildings got moved away once the train line shut down in the 1970s; it went down from there.”
There are further things afoot for this couple, who reveal they have bought the town’s iconic public hall and have plans for its restoration and reopening in 2026. Think vintage collectibles, a working collaborative art space, a produce pantry and even glamping.
“When Pascal has a vision, there’s no holding him back,” laughed Jason, who revealed he’s nurturing a dream of his own — to transform the disused rail line between Corowa and Holbrook into a scenic rail trail for walkers and cyclists.
“We’ve had some sleepless nights this week pulling this all together but it’s going to be worth it on the night when we plan to enjoy it along with all the guests who come from around the region.
“Then, when we recover from that, we’ll turn our eye to the hall and giving Balldale a few other things to be very proud of.”
There are still a few tickets to the ball available. They are $50 per person and include a drink on arrival, entertainment and a light supper. You can book via Humanitix.
