Emma Pritchard
Born and raised in the Clarence Valley, Alice Jabour, 30, grew up admiring the Grafton Jacaranda Festival and the proud traditions it holds within the local community.
As a student at St Joseph’s Primary School in South Grafton, she recalls feeling inspired to nominate as a Jacaranda candidate after a former Jacaranda Royal Party visited her and her classmates.
Along with the encouragement of her loving and supportive family, including her many adorable nieces and nephews who excitedly urged her to “go for it”, Ms Jabour said it was a dream come true to be part of the Grafton Jacaranda Festival celebrations during its 90th Anniversary as a 2024 Jacaranda candidate.
As her name was read out during the 2024 Westlawn Jacaranda Royal Party Crowning Ceremony in Grafton’s Market Square in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd on October 26, announcing her as the 2024 Jacaranda Queen, Ms Jabour said she experienced so many different emotions and felt incredibly honoured and blessed to receive the crown.
During her journey as a 2024 Jacaranda candidate, Ms Jabour also discovered a proud family connection to the oldest floral festival in Australia.
Her grandfather Gordon Jabour served as the Grafton Jacaranda Festival Manager for three years from 1987 and was the Grafton Jacaranda Festival Guest of Honour in 1997.
Throughout the past several months, Ms Jabour said she felt lucky to feel his presence with her, adding it made the experience all the more special.
Proudly sponsored by Grafton Glass, Ms Jabour works as a registered nurse at Grafton Base Hospital (GBH), and after congratulating the other 2024 Jacaranda candidates and 2024 Junior Jacaranda candidates, said she was looking forward to celebrating by having a beer across the road at the Clocktower Hotel.
Imogen Jablonski was announced as the 2024 Jacaranda Princess and said she felt extremely grateful to receive the title.
Sponsored by Jempire Events, Ms Jablonski, 29, said she embarked on her jacaranda journey to get out of her comfort zone and challenge herself, adding her younger self would be so proud to see her on the stage speaking in front of such a large gathering.
2024 Jacaranda candidate Amelia McLachlan, 20, sponsored by the New School of Arts Early Learning and Oosh Centre, was announced as the 2024 Jacaranda Royal Party Member while Dannielle Bower, sponsored by Livable Jacaranda Preschool, formally received the title of 2024 Matron of Honour.
Earlier in the evening, Isabella Roughley, 12, a proud Barkindj girl, said she felt “so so happy and very overwhelmed” to be crowned the 2024 Junior Jacaranda Queen.
Sponsored by Clarence Childhood Services, Isabella said meeting and spending time with her fellow 2024 Junior Jacaranda candidates and the 2024 Jacaranda candidates were among the highlights of her jacaranda journey, and she inspires to encourage more First Nations youths to become part of the Grafton Jacaranda Festival as its history continues.
As the first boy to nominate as a Junior Jacaranda candidate in 90 years of the Grafton Jacaranda Festival, Caleb Foster ensured his name will forever hold a special place in the history of the event after he was announced as the 2024 Junior Jacaranda Prince.
“I feel very honoured, and I hope I can inspire other boys and young men within our community to nominate as Jacaranda and Junior Jacaranda candidates in years to come,” he said.
Caleb, 14, was sponsored by Dougherty Property and said he was looking forward to catching up on some sleep following a busy start to the 2024 Grafton Jacaranda Festival.
The Jacaranda Festival Committee also acknowledged the events naming rights sponsor Wesley Mission during the evening and thanked them along with other local businesses and volunteers for their phenomenal support during the 90th Anniversary of the Grafton Jacaranda Festival.