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The Donnybrook Apple Festival 1993
Donnybrook's ninth festival saw several changes. The most
disappointing was the demise of the Apex Club, which had revived the festivals
in 1978. However, the Donnybrook Orchard Improvement Group, The Business &
Professional Women ' s Club and the State Emergency Service joined the
co-ordinating committee. Graeme Fry as Chairman, Helena Sparkes as Secretary,
Marilyn Hickman as Treasurer and a small committee set out to make the 1993
Festival " A Gala Occasion". The theme was chosen, not only for its dictionary
definition of a festive occasion, but also to highlight one of the new varieties
of apples that were leading the resurgence of the apple industry in the
district. Following on the 'Italian Affair' of the previous festival they
decided to give this one an Irish flavour to celebrate the 150th birthday of
settlement by Irish settlers in 1842. This had been celebrated by a re-enactment
of the arrival of the original settlers at the Anchor and Hope Inn, the burying
of a time capsule under the oak tree outside the Railway Station and the Country
Women producing a book, "Tales of the Old Oak Tree." The Rotary Club had arranged to provide a perpetual honour board listing
all the Festival Apple Queens since 1954 and for it to be displayed in the
Recreation Centre. This not only to commemorate the Queens but also acknowledged
the important part the apple festivals had played in raising funds to make the
Recreation Centre possible.
The Rotary Club arranged a
reunion of the former Festival Queens to witness the unveiling of this board. We invited Allan Frost, convenor of the first festival, to do
the honour but unfortunately ill health prevented his attendance and his
daughters, Jenny and Sue filled in for him. Sixteen of the twenty-two former
Queens attended to re-live their moment of glory and to meet up with old
friends. The following former South West Apple Queens attended: 1954 -June
Yates, now June Keddie of Bunbury; 1956 - Yvonne Muir of Manjimup, now Yvonne
Phillips of Manjimup; 1958 -Tess Browning of Donnybrook, now Tess Crouch of
Bunbury; 1959 -Maureen Rooke of Bridgetown now Maureen Lewson of Mosman Park;
1960 -Dawn Ryan of Donnybrook now Dawn Laing of Canberra; 1962 - Helen Staples of
Donnybrook now Helen Carroll of City Beach; 1964 -Jenny Meecham of Bridgetown
now Jenny Turner of Albury NSW; 1967- Robyn Bode of Donnybrook now Robyn Roberts
of Donnybrook; 1968 - May Pavlinovich of Mount Barker now May Butko of Nollamara.
The following former Donnybrook Apple Queens also attended: 1978 -Liz Browne now
of Bridgetown; 1979 - Josephine Cristaldi now Josephine Webster of Busselton;
1983 -Susan Henderson now Susan Negri of Bruce Rock; 1985 - Melissa Parke
now of Eastwood NSW; 1987 - Heidi Wieland now Heidi Fowler of Donnybrook; 1989
- Alison Grist now Alison O'Neil of Bunbury; 1991 - Joanne Vinci of Kirup.
The former queens took part in the parade, were introduced to the crowd at Egan
Park and also at the Apple Festival Ball, as well as attending the shire
afternoon tea for the unveiling. Not to be forgotten were the nine contestants
in this year's competition.
CONTESTANTS SPONSOR; Belinda Allen Orchard Improvement Group, Sonia Browning
Donnybrook Charlie Carters, Nikki McMullen Rotary Club, Rikki Nichols Lions
Club, Wendy Morgan Donnybrook Recreation Centre, Rommy Scoullar Rural Youth,
Mandy Silcock Football Club, Tanya Vinci Kirup Tavern,
Debbie Fogliani A & R Transport and Golden Mile Orchards.
(Courtesy of Doug Henderson's book
"Apple Queens & Festivals")
Apple Queen Entrants (back L-R) Rommy Scoullar, Mandy
Silcock, Belinda Allen (centre) Wendy Morgan, Debbie Fogliani, Sonia
Browning (front) Nikki McMullen, Rikki Nichols & Tanya Vinci.
Photo courtesy of Doug Henderson's book
"Apple Queens & Festivals" |
 Former Apple Queens with entrants (Doug Henderson far right).
Photo courtesy of Doug Henderson's book
"Apple Queens & Festivals" |
Hotham Valley Train from Perth arriving
in Donnybrook
Photo courtesy of Bruce Fry |
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 Photo courtesy of
Bruce Fry |
 Photo courtesy of
Bruce Fry |
Apple Festival History
Donnybrook Apple Festivals
2006
2004 2001 2000
1997
1995
1993 1991
1989 1987
1985 1983
1981 1979
South West Fruit Growing Regions
Apple Festivals
1968
1967 1966
1965 1964
1963 1962
1961 1960
1959
1958 1957
1956
1954
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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