Cairns Amateurs Carnival, Media Release, 30 August 2024
In celebration of spring racing and securing naming rights for next month’s Cairns Amateurs Carnival’s two-day Fashions on the Field contest, Cairns Central has unveiled a retrospective exhibition showcasing the elegance and creativity of past winners and their stunning outfits.
While offering a glimpse into the rich history and style-defining Tropical North Queensland’s iconic Cairns Amateurs event, Cairns Central will inspire racegoers to dress for the springtime occasion with its abundance of new season, head-to-toe, race-ready looks, glittering gowns, and suits in a variety of colours, silhouettes, and price points.
For Cairns Central’s Fashions on the Field contest that will be staged at Cannon Park on Friday, 13, and Saturday, 14 September, male and female competitors will dress to reflect the Tropical Elegance theme to vie for a share in more than $15,000 prizes from fashion and lifestyle retailers within its popular precinct.
Cairns Central’s Marketing Manager Louise Struber said this is her favourite time of the year and is joined by the precinct’s retailers embracing the spring racing spirit.
“While the region comes alive with the excitement of Cairns Amateurs, our retailers are primed to offer fashion and accessories that cater to every style and budget.
“We are also proud of our long-term partnership with Cairns Amateurs, encapsulated by our Fashions on the Field exhibition. For shoppers, we trust this colourful floor installation will be a lovely walk down memory lane and insight into the constantly changing world of fashion,” Ms Struber said.
Cairns Central’s Fashions on the Field exhibition showcases the winning fashion ensembles of Hall of Fame winners Jaydee Paino, Di Stewart, Kymberlee Cockrem, Monique Locastro, Tim Marsh, and Yvette Thompson. The exhibition is located on the ground floor near Myer entrance and will run until the end of September.
In advance of this year’s sartorial clash, Cairns Amateurs’ Fashions on the Field organising committee and Cairns Central went to first place on the style podium to assemble its 2024 judging panel, who boast impeccable qualifications both on and off the track.
This year’s Carnival Ambassador and racing style icon Emma Scodellaro, whose social media platform It’s All About the Sash provides information and support for a global community of Fashions on the Field competitors and enthusiasts, will set the fashion pace across both days.
Set within the heart of Amateurs’ social and racing activity and Cannon Park’s shady outdoor surrounds, replete with photo walls, seating, and pop-up bars, the fashion stage will be emceed on both days by Triple M breakfast radio presenter and experienced event manager Tammy Barker.
Cairns Amateurs Carnival Steering Committee member Rebecca Conlan said Emma Scodellaro and her fellow judges will be vested with the all-important task that ensures the event continues its tradition of lifting Far North Queensland’s racing fashion bar.
“Cairns Amateurs Fashions on the Field is the benchmark for racing fashion and reflects individuality, contemporary trends, style, and elegance.
“Cairns Amateurs contestants regularly take line honours at Randwick and Flemington, and Cairns can mix it with the best,” Ms Conlan said.
Taking cue from the 2024 theme, Tropical Elegance, competition criteria are based on style and originality, interpretation of the latest trends, appropriateness of race wear for a spring carnival in Cairns, attention to detail, style, design, and quality of workmanship in millinery, grooming, and deportment.
Cairns Amateurs Carnival Ambassador Emma Scodellaro will look for looks that complement the tropical springtime theme and the wearer’s personality and style.
In 2024, Cairns Central will present goody bags to all finalists and contribute to the significant prize packages for the winners and runners-up of seven judging categories across both days:
- Friday 13 September 2024
Gold Class Ladies Racewear, Open Ladies Racewear and Local Ladies Racewear (introduced in 2023 for competitors between the Cassowary Coast, the tip of Cape York and Torres Strait).
- Saturday 14 September 2024
Best Dressed Couple, Open Ladies Classic Racewear, Open Men’s Racewear and Open Ladies Contemporary Racewear.
Click here to view the terms and conditions and learn more about entering the 2024 Cairns Amateurs Carnival’s Cairns Central Fashions on the Field. Online registrations will close for judging categories at 11.45 am each day of the competition.
For further information and to buy tickets to the Great Northern Brewing Co Cairns Amateurs Carnival from 12 to 14 September, visit www.cairnsamateurs.org.au.
Cairns Amateurs Carnival acknowledges the following event sponsors for their contribution to presenting the 2024 event: Great Northern Brewing Co, Ladbrokes Australia, Cairns Regional Council and Tourism & Events Queensland.
