Jacaranda Queen Janette (Alford) Blair in the Float Procession, 1978

Jacaranda Queen Shirley (Young) Adams in 1952

On the 29th October 1935, Grafton's first Jacaranda Festival made its debut before 4000 enthusiastic fans in brightly illuminated Jacaranda Avenue (in Pound Street).

Children by the hundred danced and presented a floral pageant before Myrtle Gentle's name was drawn from a golden casket as first Jacaranda Princess by the Festival King, Jim Orr. Jacaranda Queen was Mavis Schwinghammer and they were attended by 20 maids of honour, 11 pages, flower girls, jesters and princesses.

The next night a floral dance, adopted from The Cornish Floral Dance and played in one step time, encouraged adults to dance down Jacaranda Avenue.

Dancing in Jacaranda Avenue (c. 1937)

Since the first Festival a queen crowning ceremony is held on the last Saturday in October each year, heralding the start of the major festival week. The final weekend features a spectacular street parade.

The festival is now into its 77th year and is still strong in commitment, participation and celebration from the Clarence Valley residents. The Jacaranda Festival attracts many tourists during this late springtime event.

In 2009, thanks to the contribution and work from Essential Energy, a new crown was installed on the top of the Prince Street Clocktower.

Shining out every night during the Festival, this marvellous centrepiece adds some Jacaranda sparkle to the main street of Grafton.

Photo: Libby Power

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kay Paine (nee Russell) spent her childhood in Bowraville in the the Nambucca Valley, attending Bowraville Public School and Macksville High School.

On completion of her schooling Kay chose nursing as a career and trained as a student nurse at Grafton Base Hospital. Her career spanned a period of nearly 40 years at Grafton Base Hospital as a Nurse Educator and later in Nursing Administration. Kay finally retired as Director of Nursing in 2002.

This year (2002) she was elected as the Jacaranda Festival's Matron of Honour and has since been involved with the Jacaranda Festival Committee.

Kay wrote the History of Grafton Hospital following her retirement. This book chronicled the first 130 years of one of the Clarence Valley's most prestigious icons.

She then researched the history of Grafton's Jacaranda Festival completing this book in 2008. It was launched at the start of 2009 Jacaranda Festival.
 

"The History of Grafton's Jacaranda Festival"

This exceptional chronicle on the history of Grafton's Jacaranda Festival was published by the Jacaranda Festival Committee and compiled from excerpts from the Daily Examiner from its inception in 1935 until 2008.

The history portrays the early festivals beginning in 1935 when the festival made its debut in a highly illuminated Jacaranda Avenue which formed the venue for many festivals which followed. Information in the book includes the names of all the children who took part in the early festivals. These children include many of the ancestors of local people as well as many people still living in the Clarence Valley today. Descriptions of the costumes they wore and the traditional and spectacular English dances they performed are brilliantly described.

The account of the first festival is outstanding reading resembling a fairytale scene as it describes the resplendent crowning of a little princess embellished in flowers from Jacaranda Avenue accompanied by a pageant of dancing and music on a brilliantly lit stage.

Each festival depicted in the book is unique as it includes many photographs capturing the various festival activities and events developed over many years. Photographs and descriptions of festival celebrations include the magnificent efforts made by the shops and business houses, the entertainment they provided for the visitors and the endless efforts they made in decorating their shops for the enjoyment of the crowds. Descriptions of the many floats, most exceeding 100, leaves one spellbound and in awe of the miraculous imagination obviously expended in their preparations for float nights.

The book contains approximately 700 photographs of local people and visitors and names of many local identities who contributed to the success of each festival. Local citizens will find many of their ancestors and relatives include d in the book . Staff of local shops and businesses feature prominently, especially on Jacaranda Thursdays and Carnival Capers in South Graton.

Other photographs include our beautiful Jacaranda Queens, Princesses, attendants., candidates, Matrons of Honour, flower girls & Page Boys, Junior Jacaranda parties and exceptional photographs of crownings at most festivals. Also featuring in the book are well-known guests of honour, guest artists, Festival Presidents and many others.

Themes acted out in the schools displays at each festival provide impressive reading where hundreds of children from local and neighbouring schools brought so much vivacity in capturing the many local industries, seasons and life in the Clarence Valley and providing spectators with scenes almost lifelike. Many photographs show the exceptional, clever and imaginative displays by the hundreds of children.

The history of the festival as the years progress and the cultural changes which take place to accommodate social change and the development of today's technology makes interesting reading as the pretty maypoles, community singing, jazz bands, symphony orchestra and sacred concerts are replaced by other activities.

The History of Grafton's Jacaranda Festival is compelling reading for all ages to read and has immortalized the history of Australia's most famous floral festival.