Queen may return as festival eyes rejig

After three successful Young Ambassador competitions, the Festival of Busselton committee is pondering whether it is time to revert back to the festival queen format.

Following the change in the competition in 2010, the festival welcomed its first ever male and married entrants, but no entrants came forward for this year’s festival.

President Bernie Masters said the committee was open to suggestions to help attract more participants.

“We’ve tried to modernise the Festival of Busselton and make it more attractive to a wider range of people,” he said.

“Over the last three or four years, we’ve eliminated some events, brought in new ones and modified others.”

“The queen competition was going along OK but we hoped that it would really take off if we opened it up to male and married entrants.”

Mr Masters said he was disappointed by the lack of entrants for the January event.

“Bottom line is that we want the 2014 festival — our 50th — to be something special and a queen or young ambassador competition would be a key part,” he said.

For more information, call Mr Masters on 0408 944 242 or e-mail bmasters@iinet.net.au.