Emma Pritchard, Clarence Valley Independent
Amanda Daffey couldn’t contain her excitement when she was given the honour of being crowned during the Westlawn Jacaranda Royal Party Crowning Ceremony on October 29.
A member of the LGBTIQA+ community and a proud Indigenous woman from Gubbi Gubbi Country, Ms Daffey is the first candidate to assume the title of Jacaranda Ambassador in the 88-year history of the Grafton Jacaranda Festival after the Jacaranda Festival Committee announced in February that Australia’s oldest floral festival would become a gender-neutral event in 2022.
Proudly sponsored by the New School of Arts Neighbourhood House, the 24-year-old local works as a youth advocate and said her decision to nominate as a candidate stemmed from her motivation to share the important message of inclusivity and making everyone feel welcome.
Speaking with the Clarence Valley Independent following the ceremony, Ms Daffey said she will utilise her new role to help give local youths a voice in the Grafton Jacaranda Festival next year and encourage them to be more involved with the event.
She also said it is “a massive step forward for the community” to be the first member of the LGBTIQA+ community to receive the crown, and she is extremely proud to be the Jacaranda Ambassador for 2022.
Ms Daffey celebrated her crowning with her four-year-old son Nate, partner Brendan, and her two stepchildren.
Sponsored by L.V. Hair, 18-year-old Trinity Gutteridge was crowned 2022 Jacaranda Princess and said she felt incredibly honoured and excited to take on her new role within the community.
Earlier in the evening, Molly Cosgrove, sponsored by Virtue Property, was crowned 2022 Junior Jacaranda Queen, and Ella Roach, sponsored by Blueberries Smoothies and Health Bar, was crowned 2022 Junior Jacaranda Princess.
2021 Jacaranda Queen Hanna Craig and 2021 Jacaranda Princess Breeanna “Breeze” Paine, spoke highly of all the 2022 candidates and said it was wonderful to be part of their jacaranda journeys this year.
In front of a large crowd who assembled in Grafton’s Market Square to watch the ceremony last week, Jacaranda Festival President Desan Padayachee was joined on stage by Guest of Honour Brooke McClymont, who told the audience she was “absolutely overwhelmed” to be part of the 2022 Grafton Jacaranda Festival and to have the opportunity to meet so many new friends.
The Jacaranda Festival Committee also acknowledged the events naming rights sponsor Wesley Mission and thanked them for their ongoing support.
The 2022 Jacaranda Royal Party are looking forward to the remainder of the 2022 Grafton Jacaranda Festival and their journeys ahead over the next 12 months as proud representatives of the local community.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 2 November 2022.
