INSPIRE: Fashion parade at Millbrook House choreographed by catwalk queen Trish Denton to raise hospice funds

She has worked with Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton and modelled for Vogue, Lagerfeld and Chanel. And now Trish Denton is bringing the catwalk to Albany, for a fashion show she hopes will raise much-needed cash for Albany Community Hospice. Ms Denton has racked up 50 years in the modelling industry. She lives in Albany where she runs Tricia’s Model Management, still riding the waves of an industry which has changed dramatically since she was having a ball in the 60s. And, as it has become harder to provide a career path for potential models, she has resorted to creating her own platform showcasing both the talent on her books and the clothes sold by local shops in a fashion spectacular at Millbrook House on Saturday, September 13. She conceded it’s a different world to the one which took her to Europe and the fashion shows of London, Paris and Milan but it’s a world she still embraces with a passion. “It’s all about the influencers today,” she said. “My models used to do promotions, catalogue work — even the Albany Advertiser used to call regularly for promotional work — but now it’s about people who will get clicks on social media. “I think that except for catwalk work, modelling has probably had its day. “An influencer who has two million likes will always get the work promoting products. “There are also guidelines for the Modelling Guild of Australia so I wouldn’t be putting a 14-year-old on the catwalk or in a photo shoot. “Having said that, I do have a 14-year-old in my parade, but they don’t get paid and it’s a local show for a good cause. “In the old days there would be 13-year-olds doing lingerie shoots which should never have happened and doesn’t happen now.” Her experience of the good-old, bad-old days was always positive. “I never had to diet, and I was well trained,” she said. “I was working in the Twiggy era in the 1960s, and I saw Jean Shrimpton wearing the first mini skirt in Australia. “Everyone was so shocked at the time but she was gorgeous, and they were really fabulous people.” Starring on the runway is no easy thing. “It’s not easy being a catwalk model,” she laughed. “You have to learn to walk — there’s even a European walk — posture is vital and there are all sorts of other tricks. “There’s a technique to taking off sunglasses, can you take off a jacket without getting all tangled up and can you handle the pockets? “You need to take special care with pockets — fingers in, thumbs out and don’t push down or you could rip them and have to pay for the jacket!” Ms Denton’s career started with grooming and deportment sessions at Perth Ladies’ College. Her father had moved to Albany for work, bringing the family south from Perth a year later. “I hated it; I had real tantrums and eventually they sent me back to Perth and the ladies college, which I loved,” she said. “I started modelling while I was there, and it just took off. “Eventually I came back to Albany, met my husband and that was that.” She no longer teaches but still runs her model management business and usually recommends anyone with talent to head to a Perth agency she recommends. Saturday’s show, which is at the historic Millbrook House, will feature a wide range of models showcasing the collections from local shops including Depeche Mode, Lucille + Rose, Featherstonehaugh and Yellow Bird. “I’m using several girls who are women aged 45-60 and who still look fabulous,” she said. “The local shops have fabulous designer collections so the clothing will be quite beautiful. “My last parade was six years ago, and I wanted to do something which would help the hospice. “Everyone in Albany probably knows someone who has had need of it so I’m doing that for my friends and supporters. “Also, if I want to keep my models busy and working, I have to organise a parade and drive it myself.” Tickets for Saturday’s show can be purchased from Clarks Newsagency in York Street or from Millbrook House.