JACARANDA KING CROWNING A FESTIVAL FIRST

By Tim Howard

The Jacaranda Festival has a crowned a king for the first time in its history, with 22-year-old Toby Power accepting the honour on Saturday night.

Grafton country music legend Troy

Cassar Daley crowned Mr Power, who was sponsored by his employer Dougherty Property, Joining Mr Power in the 2023 2023 Royal Party were Junior Jacaranda Princess Millie Lloyd, Junior Jacaranda Queen Holly Cooper and Jacaranda Princess Tilly Sparrow

It’s not the first time males have entered the quest.

In 2003 a far less tolerant Jacaranda City was happy to see the back of Wayne Herbert and Scott Kelly when they entertained thoughts of running. The local newspaper of the day reported their interest recording r Kelly have partnered two Queens vying for the title in the past and wanted to be a king.

Mr Herbert, then the manager of the city’s Gay and Lesbian Resource Centre, was happy to be a Queen, but was forced to pull out when he found he could not donate his fund raising effort to a charity of his choice.

Traditionally the quest entrants’ fund raising went to ward funding the Jacaranda Festival.

But Mr Power took a different approach when he entered the contest/ “I became a Jacaranda candidate originally to service my need to explore the unknown,” he said earlier this year.

“As soon as I found out that it was possible to enter as a male, the expression ‘why not?’ popped into my mind, so

I entered.

“It is something which I think a lot of guys would love to do, however, most are probably too scared to take the first step. I am happy to do that.”

Jacaranda Festival manager Mark Blackadder said the Mr Power’s win was an incredibly positive step for the festival and the community.

“It’s a first for the festival and is a wonderful boost for inclusivity and diversity,” he said.

After a packed weekend of events, including the Troy Cassar Daley and Don Walker Concert on Friday night, Saturday’s Crowning and Retrofest on Sunday, attention now turns to Jacaranda Thursday, this week.