A mother of four who transformed part of her home into display rooms for suits and dresses wants no school student to go without formal wear for their big occasion.
Every weekend, Tammy Robinson fits students with clothing for formals, semi-formals, and graduation ceremonies for sixth graders and youth programs in her free initiative called Formally Ever After.
Mrs Robinson, a full-time aged care worker, started giving away formal wear in 2019 from the lower level of her family home in Woodridge, right where Formally Ever After remains today.
“Just because you don’t have the money, doesn’t mean you should miss out,” she said.
In the garage, the ladies glam up with dresses and accessories, while the gents take to another room where they are greeted with a range of suits, ties and bows.
The only requirement is that students book in before they come.
“It’s all totally free and it’s been donated by the public,” Mrs Robinson said.
She then cleans the clothes – which have only been worn a few times – tags them and puts them on display.
“When they pick something from here that’s theirs, they decide if they want to re-gift it, keep it, they do whatever they want with it,” she said.
Mrs Robinson is open all year round and sees between 10 and 14 students every Saturday or Sunday and some weekdays, depending on demand.
Students come to her for special events for schools or graduations for youth programs like Project Booyah.
“A lot of the kids that are coming didn’t think they were going [to their event], and some of them didn’t think they were going to get a dress, so when they come it’s pretty special,” she said.
“And they’re all so thankful, every single one of them.
“This way, they get a chance to go and feel like everyone else, that’s really important.
“All the schools should be telling their kids about this.”
For more information or to make a booking with Mrs Robinson, go to her Facebook page Formally Ever After or email her at tammyrobinson72@yahoo.com.au
