GEORGE NEWS - Matric farewells are a highlight on any Grade 12 learners’ calendar and an opportunity for everyone to dress up. With farewell season upon us, learners from George high schools are donning dresses and suits that would put many Hollywood stars to shame, ensuring that they arrive at their functions in transport to match.

For George High School princess Prudence Korunner, her choice of outfit and transport ensured that more than just her family got into a matric farewell-tizz...friends and neighbours in Rosemoor flocked to this Grade 12 learner’s home. Prudence exit via a red carpet in an outfit and carriage designed around the theme of her favourite local newspaper, the George Herald.

As Miss Korunner made her way down the street to her awaiting chariot, which was donned and decorated with the newspaper’s banners and flags, encouraging comments were passed, little girls stared in admiration, and photos galore were snapped.

Prudence, who admits "I read the newspaper a lot and wanted to do something different", certainly did just that by asking dressmaker Lucy Goliath to design her matric farewell dress around the George Herald title. Prudence spent a week diligently cutting out the newspaper’s title every afternoon, which was used on her unique white and red dress and Chinese-style umbrella.

Immensely proud of her community, Prudence was excited to surprise all the onlookers on the evening: "I thought they would expect something different" and big was their surprise at the effort and elegance Prudence had achieved with newspaper titles.
Parents Tessa and Barry filmed every moment of their daughter’s evening, surprised and happy with their community’s response and support.

This young lady, who wants to become a social worker after writing matric, said the best part of her evening was the response of school friends: "everyone was shocked and could see what you can all do with a newspaper," telling Prudence she had "taken the cake" when it came to her bold and different outfit.

After hair and make-up by Melissa van Wyk, Prudence was assisted into her chariot and then driven through the neighbourhood by her godfather Klaas Korunner, before joining school friends Elzonia Fro-lick and Gershwin Solomons at their church, Makarios.
Here they were blessed by pastor Frankquit Jooste and his wife Liesl.

After a few more photos and last minute best wishes, it was time to make her way to the George Civic Centre where George High School celebrated and bid farewell to their prince and princess for 2011 at the Royal Ball.


Neighbours take photos of Prudence in her George Herald dress.

MORE PHOTOS HERE.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: LEEANNE PRATT, GEORGE HERALD REPORTER