Christmas decorations are up in the streets and the finishing touches are being added to the floats as the City prepares for the 2019 NF McDonnell and Sons Mount Gambier Christmas Parade. Commencing at 11:00am this Saturday 16 November 2019 the event will herald the arrival of the festive season for the 60th time since the very first parade was held in Mount Gambier in 1959.
The event will feature 61 entrants, including nine bands and new additions and attractions to celebrate the milestone event.
We are very excited to debut a new float ‘Twas the night before Christmas’ and we also have the return of the very first Christmas Parade Queen.- City of Mount Gambier Team Leader Community Events Denise Richardson
Helen Egan (nee Mules) was the very first Parade Queen and will participate in the 60 year celebrations in a castle float and queen chair that has been constructed by volunteers. The float will be towed by a restored 1964 Massey Ferguson tractor, the same way many floats in the 1960’s were towed.
The Parade Queen concept was introduced in 1965 by the Junior Chamber of Commerce who ran the parade at the time to raise money for charities.
“At the time I was just 18 years old and was awarded a trip to Sydney for raising the most money which was donated to the Derrington Street Special School,” Mrs Egan said.
“I am looking forward to participating in the event – it’s a great event for the city and it will be a laugh, my grandchildren are quite excited too.”
