af 1964

With Harold Ayers again as chairman and Allan Frost as Secretary, Donnybrook organized its fourth festival in 1964. This marked the tenth anniversary of the Apple Festivals. In recognition of the importance Singapore was having on the festival, a large consignment of Asian students took part in a rodeo which was a feature of the program. Another innovation was the release of 1200 balloons filled with helium, courtesy of Kleenheat Gas. Otherwise the program was fairly ordinary and a bit of a letdown after the innovative program at the last Donnybrook Festival. The program got under way on Saturday morning with the Apple Box Derby on the Convent hill. On Egan Park there was a children' s fun show with Uncle Arthur distributing 200 prizes to the lucky winners.

The Royal Australian Navy Reserve Band led a procession of Cowgirls and Cowboys in a Street Parade to the rodeo ground before the rodeo commenced at 12.00 noon. Nearly 2000 people poured through the gates to enjoy the thrill-packed program from the natural vantage point on the steep banks of the Preston River. Bill Payne won the under 12 poddy calf ride, while in the 13 to 15 year old section Tom Sheehan was the winner. In the senior events, Henry Clifton won the buck jump and Terry Stevens the steer ride. The bronco ride was won by Eddy Duffy and the novice buck jump went to Tom Sheehan. The opening of the festival followed a lunch for the Vice-regal party given by the Donnybrook Shire Council. After lunch a children's procession preceded His Excellency the Governor, Sir Douglas Kendrew who opened the Festival. After the opening, children took command of the festival with a maypole dance, trampoline display, a tyre race and a fun show. A demonstration of clay pigeon shooting finished off the day. Also after lunch the State Fruit Handling Competitions were held in Burridge and Warren's packing shed. About two hundred people struggled to see Maureen Kirkpatrick win the apple packing. The venue was such that only a few in the front couple of rows were able to see, whilst others climbed onto apple boxes and machinery in an effort to witness the event. (Courtesy of Doug Henderson's book "Apple Queens & Festivals")

Bridgetown's Jenny Meecham on her float. Photo courtesy of Doug Henderson's book "Apple Queens & Festivals"	Jenny Meecham crowned Festival Queen at the ball. Photo courtesy of Doug Henderson's book "Apple Queens & Festivals"

(L-R) Donnybrook District Queen Annette Clarke, Tania Young & Kate Mitchell. Photo courtesy of Doug Henderson book "Apple Queens & Festivals"

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.

The Donnybrook Apple Festival 1964

The next Donnybrook Apple Festival is in Easter 2010