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Carnival of Flowers, Toowoomba (1953)

  1. People of Toowoomba, do you know the Floral Queen of 1953, or one of the little girls holding her gown?

    What are your memories of the Carnival of Flowers?

    2. #1 from beth – 13 years, 9 months ago.

  2. My name is Warring Carlsson. I was, as an 11 year old boy, the Herald/Page Boy walking immediately in front of the Queen float, on the left hand side. (nearest the camera.) The boy on the other side, obscured, was Dawson Bates (decd.) We both wore a yellow satin coat, buttoned up the front, that went to about half way between buttocks and knees. It had a frilly cream lace cravat and the same lace at the sleeve cuffs. We had matching satin breaches that fastened just under the knee. We were wearing stockings (two piece in those days), but can't remember how they were held up. On our shoes was a squarish silver buckle. The 'Heralding Trumpets' were gold with a red pennant attached. I can't remember what was written on the pennant. My Mother made the Page Boy outfits. (Can you imagine two 11 year old boys having patterns and material pinned and tacked - we didn't get clobbered, but we probably deserved it.)

    We were both on the Queens float the following year, in the same outfits, but were standing on top about half way along. I remember that the outfits were pretty tight in 1954. The float was made by members(and their kids) of the Newtown Progress Association, of which, my parents were members. We made thousands of paper flowers at home for weeks, leading up to the assembly and fixing in August/September. Most nights,us kids, being the smallest would be under the float laying on bags covering the concrete floor, guiding the copper tigh wire through the 'chicken wire' that covered the float. Boy, it used to be cold. Fond memories though! Hope this has been of some assistance.

    3. #2 from Warring – 13 years, 8 months ago.

  3. We have had a wonderful response from Toowoomba locals about the Carnival of Flowers footage.

    Here is an excerpt of an article published in the Toowoomba Chronicle on March 23 2011, written by Anthea Gleeson.

    "The year was 1953 and a quiet, unassuming 15-year-old took to the stage in Queens Park, dressed in a resplendent blue silk gown with a long train of fresh flowers. Val Sinclair was tall for her age which she believes helped her secure the Carnival of Flowers Queen's crown that year. Fifty-three years later, memories of that time came flooding back to Val (now Mrs Edwards) after the National Film and Sound Archive unearthed film from that era. The film was commissioned by the Queensland Minister of Lands and Irrigation and showed the carnival of that year including the parade, garden competition and the coronation of Mrs Edwards as queen.

    Last week, Mrs Edwards was stunned to see still images from the film published in The Chronicle. At that stage, the identity of the queen was unknown. "I had never seen those films before." Mrs Edwards said. "It was a lovely surprise to see myself in the paper, and then in the films when we got them up on the computer."

    Mrs Edwards said her reign as carnival queen was exciting. "I was only 15, but being a tall person, they chose me," she said. "It was just awesome. I had a cross on a chain (around my neck). It was jumping up and down on my chest, my heart was beating that fast. It was a very proud moment. They were good days. Life was laid back, not the fast lane like today."

    That year, however, Mrs Edwards said there was controversy surrounding the crowning of the carnival queen. Mrs Edwards believed, It was a lovely surprise to see myself in the paper, and then in the films when we got them up on the computer. Val Edwards unbeknown to the original carnival queen Dawn Hillocks, money had exchanged hands to ensure Ms Hillocks' crowning.

    "At the last minute, I was chosen to be the floral queen crowned in Queens Park," Mrs Edwards said. "Dawn (Hillocks) was a lovely girl, it was just unfortunate that money passed hands. She was stood clown, but still chosen to be in the parade."

    Mrs Edwards has lived in Toowoomba all her life. After her crowning, she enlisted in the army and served as a nurse. She went onto to have four children: Kym, Karen, Brett and Leesa. She now has 14 grandchildren, five great grandchildren, with number six and seven on their way."

    4. #3 from beth – 13 years, 8 months ago.
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