Donnybrook Apple Queen history and its role promoting agriculture industry

Last week, ABC South West WA reporter Kate Stephens reminisces about the history of the Donnybrook Apple Festival and how the Apple Queen helped with the promotion of the local industry. The small country farming town of Donnybrook, in the south-west of WA, is synonymous with apples. Its playground is apple-themed, its streets are decorated with large green apples, and most years since 1954 the town has gathered to celebrate the region's thriving apple-growing industry and to crown its "queen".

In recent years 1989, a shy young Alison O'Neil took part in the competition and, to her surprise, won. "I don't actually remember too much of it to be quite honest," she said. "I was incredibly nervous."  The competition was a huge part of the region's annual apple festival, but it was far from a beauty contest. "I think it's just about being a member of a community, a member of an industry, and being able to represent that industry," Ms O'Neil said. 

Queens take role overseas

Over the decades, the role of the queen changed from a mostly fundraising and ceremonial title to playing an important promotional role for the apple industry. As queen, Ms O'Neil flew to Singapore to represent the fruit industry. Her predecessor had attended a similar event the year before and was asked to speak at an international conference — something relatively unheard of for a rural woman in the 1980s. 

Ms O'Neil said, during her reign, women were just starting to be recognised for their role in the industry and on the farm.

"I'm very proud of my mum and I have three older sisters, and we worked on the farm the same as my father," she said. "There was no difference between men and women”.