The Jacaranda Queen Crowning at Market Square (2008)  Photos by Frank Rasborseck.

You have embarked on a wonderful opportunity and are now representatives of the Grafton Jacaranda Festival Committee Inc. & the Clarence Valley Community.

The Jacaranda Festival is the oldest floral festival in Australia and your commitment and willingness to partake as a candidate will be acknowledged forever in the history of the "75th Jacaranda Festival 2009".

Queen Candidates arranged in order of ballot. Photos taken by The Daily Examiner.

Photo by The Daily Examiner

CHRISTINE HACKETT

The Grafton Jacaranda Festival Committee introduces our Matron of Honour Elect 2009 Mrs Christine Hackett, nominated by her employers Debra and John Tennant of Guardian Southside Pharmacy.

Christine has had a long association with the Jacaranda Festival. As a young girl she was a flower girl for Jacaranda Princess Candidate Toni Dell. She has participated in many Jacaranda Schools Displays (with her favourite dance being the Maypole). In 1980 she was honoured and crowned Jacaranda Queen.

Christine is the daughter of Barry and Jean Wormald. Married to Doug (26 years) they have 3 grown children, Todd, Leisa and Jason. Christine and Doug have always lived in Grafton and their children have been active in many local sporting circles.

Christine Works as a Dispensary Technician and Floor Manager at both the Guardian Southside and Moonee Beach Pharmacies. She has a special interest in Diabetes, and was involved in bringing the Diabetes Outreach Clinic to Grafton for Type 1 diabetes sufferers; she also has a special interest in Sleep Apnoea.

Christine loves to go fishing - crabbing on the Clarence and Wooli rivers, enjoys swimming, the beach, travelling and spending time with her family.

Photo by The Daily Examiner

ALISON SMITH

I am Alison Smith 24 sponsored by my employer Queen Street Clinic. My parents Julie and Gary Smith encouraged me to join the 2009 quest. I have always enjoyed dressing up and being involved in Jacaranda and I am glad to have the chance to give back to the festival. I appreciate living in Grafton and being close to my family and childhood friends.

Sponsored by:

Queen Street Medical Clinic

33 Queen Street, Grafton

(02) 6643 1100

Photo by The Daily Examiner

SAMANTHA DIVE

My Names is Samantha Dive and I am 22 years old. I work with animals at the Grafton Animal Shelter and I am also a Service Assistant at Bi-Lo South Grafton. My sponsors, who are celebrating their 30th Anniversary, are Grafton Mall Traders and Management. I have entered the quest because I love this community and Jacaranda gives me an opportunity to reconnect with the town after being away

for five years. I am really excited to be a part of the 75th Anniversary Celebrations and proud to be a candidate.

Sponsored by:

Grafton Mall Traders & Management

Pound Street, Grafton

Photo by The Daily Examiner

KIM McCLYMONT

My name is Kim McClymont and I'm 23 yrs old. I attended Grafton Infants, Primary and High School. I have been working as a pharmacy assistant for the past 5 years at the Grafton Discount Drug Store. I am a self confessed animal lover who loves photography, athletics, spending time with family and camping at the beach. The Jacaranda Festival has always been apart of my life and I admire what it brings to the community. I'm so

excited to be apart of the 75th anniversary and appreciate that I have had the chance as a Jacaranda Queen Candidate to help the festival continue into the future.

Sponsored by:

Photo by The Daily Examiner

LORELEA ABELE

I am 23 years of age and have lived in Grafton my whole life. My hobbies are music, spending time with friends, and travelling. I am a freelance make up artist and completed the Napoleon Perdis make up academy in 2005. The reason I entered Jacaranda was to follow in my parents footsteps with charity work for the community and no better way to do this then to keep a festival going that I love

and have been involved in from such a young age, I have already learnt so much more about the town and the people which live here and its a fantastic opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to me.

Sponsored by:

Grafton Men & Women's Bowling Clubs

Photo by The Daily Examiner

MACKENZIE HARVISON

I am a 20yr old young lady who grew up in the Clarence Valley. My sponsor is local web designer Liza Bloomer of Yoohoo Web and Design. I have been involved in the Jacaranda festival since I was 5years old, as a tiny train-carrier for the Queen Candidates. Since that first taste of Jacaranda I have performed in every Queen Crowning and Venetian Carnival until I moved to Sydney at the end of

2005 where I studied Musical Theatre at McDonald College and NIDA. I returned home in November of 2008, and have loved being home. I believe the Jacaranda Festival, whist being such a fond memory of my childhood, will be an exciting adventure to embark on and I hope to make many long lasting friends from the experience.

Sponsored by:

YooHoo - Grafton Web & Graphic Design

link

Photo by The Daily Examiner

KEIRA ELLINGWOOD

My name is Keira Ellingwood and I am 19 years of age. In 2002 I was a Junior Jacaranda Queen Candidate, since then I have always wanted to be a part of the festival and be a Jacaranda Queen Candidate. I have a beautiful little girl Amahlia and want to show her that young indigenous women can do anything. My family and I have always lived in Grafton and are from the Gumbaynggirr and

Bundjalung nations.

Sponsored by:

Photo by The Daily Examiner

MIRANDA PREDO

Hello, I'm Miranda Predo and I'm 20 years young. I'm a supervisor at Bakers Delight Grafton while studying a certificate 3 in Management. I play A grade hockey for the Demons Association and I enjoy family and friends time. I entered the Jacaranda Quest for a challenge, to gain the experience and to meet lots of new people. I am proudly sponsored by Midday Rotary.

Sponsored by:

Photo by The Daily Examiner

ABBEY BROWNING

Hello, I am Abbey and I am 19 years of age. I enjoys sports, being outdoors and socializing. I work at Woolworths and entered the quest after encouragement from my sponsor Leeah (Lasting Impressions). As a candidate I hope to learn more about the festival and am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the milestone 75th year.

Sponsored by:

Lasting Impressions Bridal & Formal Wear

80 Prince Street, Grafton

(02) 6642 2877

Photo by The Daily Examiner

AMANDA FINUCANE

I am 26 years old, my name is Amanda Finucane and I have fallen in love with Grafton! I joined Jacaranda to make new friends, and become actively involved in the community and I've achieved all of this. Growing up on the Central Coast was wonderful but I fell instantly in love with Grafton and am proud to be an advocate of Grafton and all it has to offer. When I'm not fundraising or working at Westpac

as a Home Finance Manager, I enjoy getting out on the Clarence River in the warmer months and spending time with my son Lachlan. Biggest highlight of my time as a candidate has been having dinner with "4 Ingredients" author and successful business woman Racheal Bermingham.

Sponsored by:

Accepting a nomination to become a Jacaranda Queen Candidate is a lifetime opportunity and great community honour. The Jacaranda Festival can only continue to survive as a self funded not for profit community organization from the funds raised by our valued candidates.

Candidates are encouraged to head and form a small fundraising committee, where they plan and network in preparation for "social events".

Holding "social events" provides the community with entertainment and the opportunity to meet and support the candidates. For most candidates fundraising is an introduction into the world of operating a small business.

Candidates learn to interact and negotiate with their sponsors, local business and the community. On completion of fundraising, funds raised by candidates are handed over to the Jacaranda Committee (debt free) and these funds contribute toward the overall running costs of the next years Jacaranda Festival.

Candidates prepare in practices that include formal etiquette, deportment and public speaking. The Queen Crowning Director meets once a week with candidates from mid August in preparation for special upcoming events such as the Jacaranda Ball, Judges Luncheon, Prestigious Queen Crowning Ceremony and the official Jacaranda Week (the Jacaranda Party are invited annually to more than 40 community functions) Sunday 26th October to Sunday 2nd November.

Black Toyota loan a vehicle to the Festival for the "Jacaranda Week" and the Queens Party is escorted from function to function. This has been an ongoing Jacaranda tradition and supported by the local Toyota dealership for many years.

The Jacaranda Queen competition is not a beauty quest.

The Jacaranda Queen and Jacaranda Princess are chosen on their suitability as representatives for the Clarence Valley and the City of Grafton.

The Queen and Princess are chosen by a panel of judges, and are awarded points for deportment, etiquette, personality, dress sense, grooming, and general knowledge. The ladies are initially judged at an informal luncheon on the day of the Queen Crowning Ceremony. During the evening crowning ceremony, the ladies are then awarded points for their speech and presentation.

There is also the distinguished honour of Jacaranda Holiday Princess, who is solely awarded this title as the candidate that raises the most money (other than the elected Queen and Princess) for the festival.

Major sponsor of the Queen Crowning evening is Westlawn Finance Ltd.

The Jacaranda Queen and Holiday Princess will win 7 nights (twin share) accommodation at the Indigo Pearl in Phuket. The Jacaranda Princess will spend 3 days and 2 nights at the Sands Holiday Apartments Yamba.

All candidates receive a Bendigo Bank Account, Yellow Tail Bubbles, Jacaranda Mementos, Coffee Club Vouchers, Nutrimetics, and hand made Jewellery by the Grafton Gem Club.

The Candidates throughout their quest have also been supported with complimentary hair and make-up services by the Style Gurus Kerrie Dimattia and Sharon Fallon.

The Matron of Honour will be rewarded with a "weekends total bliss retreat package" at the Gumtree Retreat, Kungala.

Click on logos to visit sponsor websites

(c) 2009   All images & text copyright. They cannot be reproduced, copied or altered without express permission.