Improvised tambourine with streamers : Miss L and S Dawson, 'The Dancing Darlings'

Improvised tambourine made from a deep circular tinplate 'Willow' brand sandwich tin. The high (40 mm) sides have a rolled rim, and three rectangular cutouts, each about 100 mm x 15 mm, have been made around the circumference, approximately evenly spaced. Three pairs of handmade circular tin jingles are set within each cutout, hung on a short wire post which has been soldered at each end to the inside of the tin. Threaded around the rim section of each cutout are ribbons made from textile scraps of cesarine and plain cotton in red, green, yellow and aqua; and two lengths of apricot acetone satin ribbon. The maker's trademark with 'Made in Australia', and the name 'SANDWICH TIN' are impressed into the base of the tin. The exterior base bears evidence of having had a coloured picture sticky-taped to it in the past - only the outline of the tape adhesive and a small scrap of paper remains. All surfaces, except for this exterior base, have been coated in a thick japan varnish.

Used by sisters Lorraine and Shirley Dawson in their variety performances as members of 'The Dancing Darlings' or 'Miss Lorraine Dawson and Her Ballet Girls' in Sydney during the Second World War. Lorraine Dawson had been involved in entertainment since childhood, including being featured in an entertainment evening in aid of the Adelaide Children's Hospital in October 1924 where she was one of a troupe in 'the golliwog's dance', with the young children wearing costumes in black, white and red, with large black wigs.

Dawson was involved in eisteddfod and competition adjudication and was a performing and visual arts judge; by the late 1930s she had established her own dance studio in Sydney, was an able choreographer and ran a theatrical costume business.

Lorraine's sister, Shirley, was also a performer and dancer. When the war started, Shirley joined the Australian Womens Flying Club (a forerunner to the Women's Air Training Corps and the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force) and trained in mechanics in the Aeroengine Squadron (see AWM image P03221.001), but gave her spare time to assist and perform with her sister, styling themselves as 'The Dancing Darlings'.

Like many women of their generation, both sisters became involved in fundraising and troop entertainment and they participated in a large range of events, including performing two to three nights per week with the Beverley Miles Concert Party at the YMCA at Liverpool, NSW; a Bellhop dance performed in Hyde Park in December 1940 for the Red Cross Rally; at Bankstown Army Camp; with the Queenie Paul & Mike Connors Show (Mike Connors was Roy Rene's straight man for many years); at the Majestic Hall at Five Dock; for the Sydney-based American Entertainment Unit, entertaining US troops; and at the Sailor's Rest & Anzac Buffet, where they regularly performed their signature hornpipe dance. When Russia entered the war in June 1941, the Dawsons added a Russian Peasant Dance to their repertoire. A photograph featuring Lorraine tap dancing at the Country Women's Association (CWA) Club in Sydney was published in The Australian Woman's Weekly for 22 August 1942.

The programme from the 'Grand Variety Show' held at Assembly Hall, Sydney on 4 July 1945 (in aid of the Ex-Naval men's association of Australia, NSW Section), noted 'Miss Lorraine Dawson & Her Ballet Girls' (Margaret Baxter, Shirley Dawson, Marjorie Tonkins, Lena Warr, Margaret White and Joan Tippert) performing. June Goodall, Leila Patterson and Sylvia Jones were also members of the 'Dancing Darlings' troupe. It appears that some of their more elaborate costumes were made by Norman (Paddy) Patton who also performed in musical theatre and was a qualified tailor who designed and made costumes.