2012 is a very colorful year for me. After participating in the council elections as an election candidate, I inadvertently saw an ad in the local newspaper about the Granny Smith Festival Queen Quest. I became curious and looked further into it, and realized the Queen is supposed function like a goodwill ambassador, acting as a mascot to be photographed in major local community events. Not only that, the Queen gets the opportunity to interact with some of the more active members of the local community. Come to think of it, being the daughter of a diplomat, I drifted around the world in the process of growing up and never came to understand any of the communities I had lived in in depth. So I decided to participate in this activity, and continue my exploration of this community.
Soon after I submitted my application, a huge photo of my face appeared on the local newspaper, and the size shocked me quite a bit! Then I was told to go for an interview. The lady on the phone told me this is not a beauty pageant, but presentation is one of the judgment criteria, so I should still try and make myself presentable. So I got a makeup artist and hairdresser to groom myself on the day of the interview. As soon as I entered the interview room, I discovered that this is the same as a job interview: one person facing five interviewers, and the editor of the local newspaper was also present. They asked questions like my career ambitions, etc!
Crowning occurred two days after the interview. I did my own makeup that day, and stuck on fake eyelashes by myself for the first time in my life, which was pretty fun. I ended up getting first runner up. Zoe Jane Alexiou was selected as the queen this year, and she was the first runner up the year prior. She is a very active member of the local community, being involved with volunteer work, working part-time in MacDonald’s, very articulate, knows many people, is interested in politics, and works casually in MP Victor Dominello’s electorate office. She’s seen a lot for her age, congratulations to her!
So, what is the Granny Smith Festival? The annual Granny Smith Festival celebrates the life and legacy of one of our district’s most famous citizens, Maria Ann Smith - aka Granny Smith - who, back in 1868, ‘accidentally’ grew the first batch of little green apples that bear her name and are now grown all over the world. The Granny Smith Festival began in 1985 and is now regarded as one of Sydney’s largest street festivals. Each year around 80,000, flock to Eastwood for this.
The finalists of the Queen quest were asked to attend the annual “Granny Smith” special service at St Anne's Anglican Church, the third oldest church in Australia, which was the church Granny Smith used to attend and was buried in.
http://www.stannes.org.au/History.html
On the day of the festival, the Queen Quest finalists are on the parade. Marshalling was at 8:30am! I am very thankful to two of my friends who woke up so early to come with me and take photos for me! I am also thankful that one of the sisters in my church lent me a white Qi Pao, which I had worn in a church play previously! Even though that Qi Pao didn’t belong to me, it fitted so well, thank God for that! To me, the highlight of the festival was the ride in the Marilyn Monroe car! Yes, that is really a second hand car from Marilyn Monroe, and it looks pretty flash! After the parade, I sat on the stage where the MPs/Mayor/Councillors were, for the festival opening ceremony. After that, I went to get my Queen quest prizes, visited my clinic, and looked around various stalls with my friends.
I still remember, on the 2011 to 2012 New Year’s Eve prayer meeting from my church, I listed 2012 as my “fisher year” in my New Year’s resolution (“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19). And indeed, God gave me the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people this year, and I still have a lot to learn. Keep searching, searching God’s will for me in this life.
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