ONE of the brightest, "sunniest" days imaginable greeted Procession Day for Port Macquarie's tenth annual Carnival of the Pines on Easter Monday.
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For ten successive years no procession has been affected by rain and on several occasions the weather has been as glorious as it was yesterday.
The procession was an outstanding success and was one of the best the Carnival has produced.
There were three outstanding floats in a parade that extended for one and a half miles. They were prepared and entered by the Motels' Association, the Golf Club, and Oxley County Council.
Many other highly commendable floats were presented, and a very wonderful gesture of co-operation with Carnival organisers and officials from businessfolk and other organisations was in evidence. The presence of Tamworth's Boys' Band lent much to the procession, and with them at the head and Port Macquarie's famous band half-way along the line the march was well balanced.
Scouts, Cubs, Guides and Brownies, the youngsters of the Star Club, the Nippers' Surf Club, the Athletic Club, and a group with decorated bicycles, displayed with great credit to themselves a vigorous and healthy interest in the town in which they live.
Mr. Chaffey came down from Tamworth, again with a "fabulous" float; John Atkinson wore his suit of "a million" buttons; and John Lowe, of the Whar Hing Cafe, lent atmosphere with his performance in the Chinese lion's head.
Procession master Athol Platt had to seek assistance from the local police to keep the crowds back from the procession route.
Thousands of people lined Clarence and Horton Streets and it was the biggest attendance for some years.
There was no hitch; between sessions of official activity from the V.I.P. dais, the "Mystics" (led by local lad David Boyne), played the liveliest of "Beatle" tunes from the awning of the Hotel Macquarie. The welcomes were well said; praise for Port Macquarie and its carnival was justly given.
Float Winners:
The Motels' Association presented the "best decorated" float (pictured on page one with "queen" candidate Miss Dawn Lawry adding to the attractive scene); Ald. C. C. Adams, of the Olympic Motel, presented the best "business" float; the Car Club the "most humorous"; West Port Women bowlers the best sporting entry; the Historical Society the best in that section, and Oxley County Council the best "queen's" float; "Miss Port Macquarie" and the "Easter Egg" were the best decorated bikes; Tom Atkins 16,000 "costermonger" button suit wore the best Carnival dress; Ruth Woodlands (Sydney) wore the gayest dress, and a special trophy went to the Nippers' Surf Club.
From The Dais:
Ald. D. S. Kennedy, mayor of Port Macquarie, extended hearty greetings to all present and presented a Civic Address of Welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Murray Finlay, of New-castle, the Carnival's official guests.
Mr. Finlay is associated with T.V. Channel 3, Newcastle, and his voice and picture image were already very well known in these parts.
Ald. Kennedy also welcomed Ald. "Bill" Crisp, of Grafton, and Mrs. Crisp; also veteran citizen Mr George Ponsford (97), who was given an honoured position on the dais amongst the lovely young "queens" and "princesses" from Cooma and Port Macquarie.
Ald. "Bill" Crisp, well known for his contribution to "Jacaranda Week", said there was in every town a certain number of people prepared to do something towards doing those things which mean so much to the advancement of a town as a whole.
He appealed to each and everyone "to come forward and assist; remember this is your carnival for your town, your help will make both great."
Carnival president Amr. John Griffiths thanked all for their cooperation and assistance; he introduced Miss Margaret Stanley (reigning queen of the carnival) and Misses Pat Miners and Fay Schellback, Cooma festival queens; he also invited Mr. Murray Finlay to officially open the carnival.
Mr. Finlay expressed his thanks for the honour and went on to say he was sending his wife back home and was staying on for a week or so himself.
He was very impressed by Port Macquarie, rich in history and tradition, and said the obvious pride of local people was reflected generally around the town.
He further commended Port Macquarie for being so interested in the present and future and said he was most impressed by the way the townspeople were looking to their future.
Proof of that is here today, said Mr. Finlay, in this great voluntary effort for your annual festival.
Planning to do practical things with monies raised was also commendable, he said, and he congratulated the carnival committee on the way in which it was organised.
In the background while all the nice things were being said was Mr. "Cam" Campbell, organising secretary for the carnival, and much of the praise won has been the result of his efforts.
Last Night's Parade:
The seven "queen" candidates were all very lovely as they paraded last night before the first of two different panels of judges before whom they will appear prior to the "queen" being announced.
It was a pleasant evening in the outdoors on the waterfront green and a large crowd gathered to greet Mr. Murray Finlay and T.V. artists Bruce and Barry Provost and Miss Shirley Brien.
Other artists appeared and it was a happy night with the well decorated green a delightful setting.