Junior Ekka Champion from Maleny

Local Ekka champion

Narelle Thamm with Zarah Smolders

It’s not all strawberry ice-creams and sideshow alley for our young locals at the Brisbane Ekka. For 11-year-old Zarah Smolders of Maleny, who recently represented the Maleny Show Society in the natural fibres competition, it was serious work.

Each year this competition attracts amateur dress makers and aspiring designers, giving the competitors the opportunity to display their latest creations in front of an audience of more than 400,000 people.

Zarah entered class 2 of the natural fibres – self-made competition, which required her to make an outfit for any occasion, except swimwear or sleepwear, and the purchase price of the fabrics could not exceed $120.

The garment was to be cut and sewn by the entrant, who could only take advice on how to complete it, and the entrant was required to model the garment for the judges as well.

Zarah won the category for students in years 5-9 against six other entrants. Her outfit was then judged against the winner of class 3, which was for students in years 10-12. She was ultimately awarded the overall champion of the junior selfmade competition.

Her prize package included a Bernina sewing machine and a number of smaller prizes.

Zarah is a student at Narelle Thamm Sewing School and she has been learning for 12 months. Narelle is very proud of Zarah’s achievement and is encouraging her to continue with her sewing.

Planning is already under way for the outfit Zarah will enter in the 2020 competition.