The following article is taken from the
"Moree Lions Club 1954-2004 50th Anniversary Journal"
In 1958 the Moree community held a Princess of Moree Carnival Week to raise funds for amenities at Taylor Oval. April 1964 saw the Lions Club of Moree organize and run an annual carnival which was then known as the "Festival of the Golden Grain". The major beneficiary was Gwydir Handicapped and £1,186.86 was raised.
There was another "Festival of the Golden Grain" in December 1964 and it is presumed it was held in November of every year since then. In 1968 it was called the "Carnival of Golden Grain" and this continued until 1979 when it became known as the "Golden Grain Festival". With the advent of the cotton industry in Moree District in the eighties, in 1991 it became known as the "Golden Grain Cotton Festival. Street processions with decorated floats have paraded down the main street every year to the carnival site which has changed over the years from in front of the Council Chambers to the Showground, Balo Square Car Park and the current venue (as at 2004) Kirkby Park. Sponsors of the Princesses have entered floats. As well,schools, business houses, service clubs, sporting clubs, bands and many other organizations have contributed to these fine processions with the mandatory showing of the Ambulance, Fire Brigade and State Emergency Services at the rear. The Ball has been the feature event of the Carnival with the crowning of the winning entrant who over the years has been sponsored by local business houses, service clubs and community groups.
In 1964, the winning entrant was crowned Queen of the Golden Grain. This was changed to Princess of the Golden Grain in 1967 and this title remained until 1979 when it became the Golden Grain Festival Queen. In 1985 it became the Golden Grain Princess and this lasted until 1991 when it was changed to the current title of Golden Grain Cotton Princess.
In 1964 the winning entrant received a prize of £300. The winning Princess in 1973 won a trip to Te Awamutu in New Zealand following a visit there by our Club President, Lion Ron Hardman. The winner in 1976 also received a gold watch donated by Warren Fanning and this annual donation continued for many years. The last winning trip to Te Awamutu was in 1988 and since then the prize has been travel and travel expenses. In 1994 this was changed to prize money for both first and second.
According to the records there have been ten occasions when the Princess entrants have also raised money themselves for the title of Golden Grain Charity Princess. The highest recorded total was raised by Julie Sutton in 1984 when she raised an extraordinary amount of $9,526.89.
Over the years there have been a variety of stalls and entertainment at the carnival site. These include the Ham Wheel, Turkey Wheel, Dog Game, Dinks Stall, Cake Stall, Chocolate Wheel, Hoopla, Lucky Dip, Lucky Envelopes, Slide Games, Train Rides, Pony Rides, Inflatable Castle, Camel Rides, Gymnastics Display, Hotdogs and no Lions Carnival would be complete without the BBQ.
There have been many varied events held during the week of the Carnival. Some have become very successful while others were not supported so well. 1977 saw the commencement of tennis and in 1985 there were five cycle races. In 1982 a Sunday morning Family Day was held. Notable successes have been the Golf and Bowls along with Darts, Snooker, Squash and lately BMX.
In 1991 the inaugural Cotton Boll River Derby was held when cotton bolls (ping-pong balls) are raced down the Mehi River from Apex Weir to the bridge. This has been most successful.
1993 saw the introduction of the first Australian Cotton Bale Rolling Championships. This will become bigger and better as it continues.
Other events held in conjunction with the Carnival have been display and portrait competitions at the Moree Plains Gallery, TAFE Fashion Parades and Business Window Display Competitions. 1994 saw the introduction of Sky Diving and a mass Band March. The main reason for the Carnival week has been to raise money for worthy causes within our local Moree District. There have been many beneficiaries of these funds which over the 41 years of the Golden Grain have totalled in excess of $260,000. It's worth thinking about this amount and knowing how generous the community of Moree has been over the past years. A recipient of major donations has been the Fairview Home for the Aged which was known in 1964 as the Senior Citizens Building Fund and has received in excess of $58,000 from the Moree Lions Club.The Moree Hospital received in excess of $40,000 for the purchase of vital equipment including foetal monitor, sterilizer, intensive care monitor, oximeter and humidicrib for use by our community.
1967 saw funds being made available for the Moree Boys Club which later became known as the Moree Youth Club and now the Police Citizens Youth Club. Lions interest in providing for the youth of our community has seen this Club benefit from donations in excess of $20,000 over the years. The Moree Brass and Pipe Bands, who are present at just about every public function have benefited with funds in excess of $17,000 for equipment and uniforms.
The Moree Ambulance has been supplied with equipment worth in excess of $15,000. 1970 saw the first donation to the Gwydir Handicapped Children. After seven changes it is now known as Gwydir Industries and in excess of $16,000 has been given to this worthy cause. Other major beneficiaries have included the State Emergency Services, Salvation Army, Scouts, Fire Brigade, Life Education Van, Cancer Support Group, Asthma Support Group, Moree Library and prize money over the years for the Moree Schools.
Funds raised through the Carnival have provided amenities for the public in Moree. These include Boughton Oval fencing and lighting, picnic shelters in the parks and the Lions Park Shelter, Shed and BBQ. Without the assistance and involvement of so many it would not have been possible to raise so much to aid our community. Lions Ladies must be thanked for their assistance through the years. Without their help with cake stalls, soft drink stalls, float decorating, hot dogs and the BBQ our funds would be considerably less. They have made the decorations for the Ball their own special project.
Many thanks to our Lions Ladies for their assistance with the Golden Grain Carnival over the years.
The Moree Plains Shire Council has been a wonderful supporter of our Carnival with their bunting the main street, traffic diversions for our parade, assistance with our Ball and any other help they have been able to provide over the years.
The Bowling Club, Golf Club and Service Club have been major supporters of our Carnival allowing us to use their facilities for our fund raising.
local business houses, private individuals and lately, the cotton industry have all helped sponsor events which have made our Carnivals such a success.
The Moree Champion, Radio 2VM and NBN television have provided us with excellent publicity over the years to promote the carnival.
We should also remember the good people of the district of Moree who have so generously supported our Carnival year in and year out. Without their support we would not have been able to serve our community so well through this wonderful project. From its beginnings in 1964 it has grown throughout the years to become a major fundraiser in Moree.
There is so much that has been done in the planning and running of the Carnival and all Lions have given their time to ensure its success. We must be proud that we have been able to uphold the ethics and objects of Lions Clubs International.
