The Donnybrook Apple Festival 1963

Manjimup's third festival was organized by a committee chaired by R. Stratford with B. Coverley as Secretary. Once again religious films started the Festival on Good Friday night before the Reso Train was welcomed upon its arrival at 9.00pm. Manjimup had again dressed up for the occasion and the gaily decorated shop windows reflected the huge community involvement in the weekend. The fruit handling competitions got the festival under way on the Saturday morning in Ellershaw's packing shed and saw Margaret Licciardello return to win her fifth title since she started competing in 1957. The Apple Box Derby was also held down the hill to Mount Street.

Two bands provided music throughout the festival and the fact that most of the musicians were under 16 years of age made their efforts even more commendable. The East Victoria Park Primary School Band gained admiration for their clarity of tone and control of their instruments. A fine effort was also made by the Manjimup R.S.L. Band. Children featured as a big part of the proceedings throughout the day and a fancy dress parade down Giblett Street was the highlight of the morning. After lunch the bands led a youth procession and trade exhibits along Giblett and Mount Streets to Rea Park before the Minister for Agriculture, Mr. C. Nalder, opened the Festival in perfect weather and in front of an audience of 3,000 people. Uncle Arthur and Joey were again on hand to entertain the children and the first one hundred to greet him won a prize. Novelty events, a Pony Club display and a band recital filled in the afternoon. One of the novelty events proved rather hazardous as several of the rolling pins thrown by the women competing in the event landed among the waiting competitors! In the evening, there was a knockout basketball competition at the Primary School and a cabaret at the Town Hall.   (Courtesy of Doug Henderson's book "Apple Queens & Festivals")

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We invite people to provide us with photos of previous apple festival queens and floats. Anyone who has photos can drop them into "Crendon Machinery", all photos will be returned.

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The next Donnybrook Apple Festival is in Easter 2010

email: info@donnybrookapplefestival.com           Last modified: 29-Sep-2008