Laura Robertson is set to continue a long-held tradition as she flies the flag for Ballandean in the 2022 Apple and Grape Harvest Young Ambassador competition.
Sponsored by the Ballandean Hall and Sports Committee, Ballandean local Laura is well aware she is helping to continue the decades-long association between the area and the festival.
“I am very proud to be representing Ballandean. It’s a huge role to take on,” Laura said.
“I’m looking forward to getting out and learning about the Stanthorpe region and having fun while doing it.”
Ballandean Hall and Sports Committee president Jason Nash said after a break from festival fundraising in 2020, the committee was excited to be supporting a “born and bred” Ballandean resident in the Young Ambassador competition.
“The Ballandean Hall has had a Young Ambassador or Miss Southern Belle for as long as the festival has been on,” Mr Nash said.
“Ballandean is a very tight community and we wanted to continue with the tradition, especially since it’s harder and harder to get Young Ambassadors interested.”
As well as being the centre of the wine industry, Ballandean is renowned for memorable grand parade entries (including the Fruitisforus dinosaur which still stands opposite the Ballandean Hall) and Mr Nash hinted that there are plenty of ideas for their float in Stanthorpe’s 150th year.
“At this stage there are lots of ideas going around and there are some big ideas in the mix,” he said.
Mr Nash applauded the Apple and Grape Harvest Festival Committee’s plans for the 2022 Festival, and especially the moves to involve the Young Ambassadors in the running of the event.
“The Young Ambassadors are the people who will keep the festival going in the future,” he said.
Festival president Russell Wantling said to see the importance of the Young Ambassador/Festival Queen program had played in the Ballandean community, there was no need to look further than the Ballandean Hall.
“The walls are adorned with photographs of Ambassadors/Queens and their amazing floats from the very beginning of the Apple and Grape as the Apple Blossom Festival,” he said.
“So to have the community of Ballandean again rise to the challenge and keep the tradition alive is something that is very special.”
Mr Wantling said having a Ballandean girl represent her own community this year was terrific.
At 18 years of age, Laura may be one of the youngest ambassadors, but her knowledge of her region is second to none, he said.
“I am so thrilled to hear some of Laura’s ideas and can’t wait to see what she gains from being an Ambassador.”
Laura said she joined the Young Ambassador program to help the community, promote the region, and learn new life skills.
“Being a Young Ambassador will help me with public speaking, and I will meet so many people,” she said.
Laura and her committee are already planning fundraisers including selling a dozen Ballandean Estate wines and a weekend getaway.
