af 1981

After a recess of one year, the Donnybrook Apex Club decided to stage another Apple Festival. Under the chairmanship of David Bleakley with Debbie O'Connell as Secretary it was decided to involve other community groups to run various aspects of the Festival. The Football Club took on the running of the bar facilities at V.C. Mitchell Park and Rotary agreed to organise the Queen Competition and to stage the Festival Ball. Donnybrook enjoyed what was to be one of the most successful apple festivals when thousands of people descended on the town over Easter. In a revival of the Reso trains of by-gone festivals, the Hotham Valley Railway from Pinjarra came to town. The price of a ticket provided travel, accommodation and meals on board and entry to the Festival. The South West Trailer Club set up a mini city on Egan Park complete with amenities including a recreation tent. They even entered afloat in the parade consisting of a gaily-decorated caravan followed by people dressed in cardboard caravans as mini-vans! The festival started with Life Be In It Games before the Float Parade made its way through the main street and up to V.C. Mitchell Park. With twelve queens this year the floats were even more numerous and colourful than at the last festival.

CONTESTANT SPONSOR; Jean Piscioneri Parent and Friends Association, Corrine Kirkpatrick Egan Park Sporting Complex, Julie Connaughton Rotary Club, Jeneen Jackson Swinging Gear Boutique, Robin Howlett Preston Producer's Co-op, Robin Eriksson Donnybrook Hotel, Jenny Mitchell Boy Scouts and Humes Ltd, Linda Hitchcock Donnybrook Hotel Dart Club, Christine Froome Business and Professional Women, Rosa Giancono Donnybrook Tourist Committee Elaine Stanger C. W .A., Vanessa Rumens Apex Club (Courtesy of Doug Henderson's book "Apple Queens & Festivals")

Donnybrook Soldier's Memorial Hall decorated by the Rotary Club for the Festival Ball Photo courtesy of Doug Henderson's book "Apple Queens & Festivals"	Apple Queen Entrants (back) Christine Froome, Corrine Kirpatrick, (middle) Rosa Giancono, Julie Connaughton, Vanessa Rumens, Jean Piscioneri, Robin Erikson, Elaine Stanger, Jeneen Jackson (front) Linda Hichcock & Robin Howlett Photo courtesy of Doug Henderson's book "Apple Queens & Festivals"

Apple Queen, Jeneen Jackson & Apple Princess, Christine Froome Photo courtesy of Doug Henderson's book "Apple Queens & Festivals"	Rural Youth performing a "Squirrel Dance" Photo courtesy of Linda & Neil Yates

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 1981

The next Donnybrook Apple Festival is in Easter 2010