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#AceHistoryDesk – Donnybrook celebrates Apple Queen history and its role promoting agriculture industry

The small country farming town of Donnybrook, in the south-west of WA, is synonymous with apples.

Its playground is apple-themed, its streets are decorated with large green apples, and most years since 1954 the town has gathered to celebrate the region’s thriving apple-growing industry and to crown its “queen”.

In 1989, a shy young Alison O’Neil took part in the competition and, to her surprise, won.

“I don’t actually remember too much of it to be quite honest,” she said. 

“I was incredibly nervous.” 

Queens take role overseas

The competition was a huge part of the region’s annual apple festival, but it was far from a beauty contest.

“I think it’s just about being a member of a community, a member of an industry, and being able to represent that industry,” Ms O’Neil said. 

Over the decades, the role of the queen changed from a mostly fundraising and ceremonial title to playing an important promotional role for the apple industry. Apple Queen contestants on the float in 1954.(Supplied: State Library of WA)none

As queen, Ms O’Neil flew to Singapore to represent the fruit industry.

Her predecessor had attended a similar event the year before and was asked to speak at an international conference — something relatively unheard of for a rural woman in the 1980s. 

Ms O’Neil said, during her reign, women were just starting to be recognised for their role in the industry and on the farm.

“I’m very proud of my mum and I have three older sisters, and we worked on the farm the same as my father,” she said. 

“There was no difference between men and women.

“It was starting to be recognised that more and more women were involved [on family farms].” Alison O’Neil says she’s still proud of winning the Apple Queen competition in 1989.(ABC South West: Kate Stephens)none

Queen role evolves 

By 2006, the queen title had been changed to ambassador and men were encouraged to take part.

Josephine Dimasi took home the crown that year and said the experience changed her.

“I was very shy and reserved, but it really got me out of my shell,” she said. 

Ms Dimasi came from a second-generation farming family and said winning had shocked her parents, but made them proud.

“They just didn’t raise girls [to] not be able to do anything,” she said. 

“We were quite hands-on on the farm.”By 2006, the Apple Queen had become an Apple Ambassador.(ABC South West: Kate Stephens)none

Apple role cut down

The town’s apple festival has evolved over the years and today it is now a celebration of not just apples, but the many fruits, wines, and other industries that are thriving in the country town.

Apple ambassadors have had the chop too, with the final crowning in 2012.

Donnybrook local Charlie Pizzino, who has helped out at the festival for more than 70 years, said he was sad to see the competition go.

“It was a big highlight for the town in the earlier times,” he said.Charlie Pizzino says the competition was big in the 1960s. These are the entrants in 1963.(Supplied: State Library of WA)none

He said the festival was always a chance for rural families to get together.

“[It] got the town together and promoted the apples,” Mr Pizzino said.

“Because there was a hell of a lot of apples grown in Donnybrook.”

Royalty remembered

Past queens and ambassadors will be remembered at this year’s event with some taking part in the traditional street parade.The Apple Queen float in 1958.(Supplied: State Library of WA)none

Alison O’Neil is looking forward to gathering with former royalty and says her crowning is still a source of pride.

“It was an incredible opportunity for growth, and really a boost for my self-confidence,” she said. 

“I do reflect on it quite often and I think, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I actually did that.’”

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