On 26 July, the Kiama Icons and Artists group will hold, what they hope to be, the first annual Orry-Kelly Gala at The Sebel in Kiama.

Orry-Kelly is the Kiama born, three-time Oscar-winning costume designer behind hundreds of Hollywood classics, including Some Like It Hot, Casablanca, and An American in Paris.

The event is the brainchild of Cate Menzies, founder of the Kiama Icons and Artists group and owner of Kelly Cottage in Jerrara, a recreation of Orry-Kelly's home. Menzies' discovery of the cottage is a story worth telling.

Originally located on Terralong Street, the house was set to be demolished after a developer purchased the property. However, rather than being torn down, the cottage was put up for auction. Menzies' husband, aware of her deep interest in Orry-Kelly and Old Hollywood, thought it would be worth a visit.

"I was in hospital on the day of the auction," Menzies recalls. "My husband kept asking what time I’d be discharged, and when the doctor gave me the green light, he said, Great, we can make it in time. I thought, Where are we going?"

To her surprise, he took her to the auction, where they turned out to be the only bidders. "I thought, What are we going to do with this?"

The couple had 30 days to move the historic cottage from Terralong Street to their property in Jerrara, marking the beginning of Menzies' growing passion for Orry-Kelly, which eventually sparked the idea for the Gala in July.

After carefully refurbishing the cottage to its original appearance, Menzies had a conversation with a woman who had never heard of Orry-Kelly. 

"That just made me sad," Menzies says. "It made me think, something needs to be done. I thought about the Elvis Presley festival in Parkes, Elvis never even came to Australia, and how we need to celebrate him regularly to keep his legacy alive. Orry-Kelly started here, he came from an amazing Kiama family, and he deserves to be recognised."

So, what did Menzies envision for this celebration? "In my head, I could hear GLAMOUR," Menzies laughs. "It couldn’t just be a talk, it had to be something fabulous, something Orry would have loved."

And so, the Orry-Kelly Gala was born. While many details are still being finalised, Menzies promises there will be an exhibition of Orry-Kelly’s work, special guests, dancing, and, most importantly, a dress-up theme to honor his legacy.

In December 2024, the Kiama Icons and Artists group held a Sunday Sippers night at The Sebel to attract new members and help organise the celebration. Menzies invites anyone interested to get involved.

"We’re seeking to grow our membership," Menzies says. "It’s only $2 to join, and if anyone is interested in a leadership role, we’re also looking for a treasurer to join the team."

For those eager to get involved or stay updated on the event, the Kiama Icons and Artists group is active on Facebook.