Miss Australia

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Miss Australia is the title for the winner of the Miss Australia Quest/Awards, which ran from 1954 until 2000, when the last "Miss Australia" was named.

The title of "Miss Australia" had existed since 1908, although it was not until 1954[1] that it became associated with The Spastic Centres of Australia. "The Miss Australia Quest" was sponsored and organised from 1954 until the early 1960s by the lingerie manufacturer, Hickory, until Dowd Associates transferred the ownership to the Australian Cerebral Palsy Association [(now CP Australia)[2] in 1963.

From 1926 the program operated under the name of "The Miss Australia Quest" until 1992 when it was changed to "The Miss Australia Awards" to reflect changing community attitudes.

"Miss Australia" raised money for The Spastic Centres of Australia through her family and friends. She was judged on merit, as well as raising the monies for children and adults with cerebral palsy.

Contents

[edit] History of "Miss Australia"

  • 1926 - Helen Wayth
  • 1927 - Beryl Mills
  • 1937 - Judy Kelly
  • 1953 - Maxine Morgan

Began its association with The Spastic Centres of Australia

  • 1954 - Shirley Bliss
  • 1955 - Maureen Kistle
  • 1956 - June Finlayson
  • 1957 - Janette Craig selected, but turned the title down. Helen Wood chosen to replace her.
  • 1958 - Pam Mackay
  • 1959 - Joan Stanbury
  • 1960 - Rosemary Fenton
  • 1961 - Tania Verstak
  • 1962 - Tricia Reschke
  • 1964 - Jan Taylor
  • 1965 - Carole Jackson
  • 1966 - Sue Gallie
  • 1967 - Margaret Rohan
  • 1968 - Helen Newton
  • 1969 - Suzanne McClelland
  • 1970 - Rhonda Iffland
  • 1971 - June Wright
  • 1972 - Gay Walker
  • 1973 - Michelle Downes
  • 1974 - Randy Baker
  • 1975 - Kerry Doyle
  • 1976 - Sharon Betty
  • 1977 - Francene Maras
  • 1978 - Gloria Krope
  • 1979 - Anne Sneddon
  • 1980 - Eleanor Morton
  • 1981 - Leanne Dick
  • 1982 - Jenny Coupland
  • 1983 - Lisa Cornelius
  • 1984 - Maryanne Koznjak
  • 1985 - Maria Ridley
  • 1986 - Tracey Pearson
  • 1987 - Judi Green
  • 1988 - Caroline Lumley
  • 1989 - Lea Dickson
  • 1990 - Rebecca Noble
  • 1991 - Helena Wayth
  • 1992 - Suzanne Lee
  • 1993 - Joanne Dick
  • 1994 - Jane Bargwanna
  • 1995 - Margaret Tierney
  • 1996 - Suzanne Haward
  • 1997 - Tracy Secombe
  • 1998 - Suellen Fuller
  • 1999 - Kathryn Hay
  • 2000 - Sheree Primer

Ended its association with The Spastic Centres of Australia


This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] "Miss Australia"

Miss Australia and Fundraisers 1954 - 2000 (with photos) [3]

[edit] "Miss Australia" - Broken Into State Regional Titleholders

Miss New South Wales and Fundraisers 1954 - 2000 (with photos) [4]


[edit] Famous "Miss Australias"

One of the most famous "Miss Australias" was a woman named Tania Verstak. She was born in China of Russian parents, and when she won "Miss Australia" in 1961, she was the first woman of immigrant background to win the Title.


The first Aboriginal woman to win the "Miss Australia" Title was Kathryn Hay in 1999.

[edit] The Role Of Volunteers in "Miss Australia"


[edit] Criticism and Analysis of "Miss Australia"


[edit] "Miss Australia" in International Beauty Pageants

There are now multiple competitions using Miss Australia in their title. To differentiate amongst the official national preliminaries to international competitions, the franchise name is added to "Miss Australia".

For example, Australia's Miss Universe contestants never came from The Spastic Centres Association "Miss Australia". A local modelling agency selected representatives through small beauty pageants and screenings.

In 2002 Jim Davie revived "Miss Universe" in Australia by setting up the "Miss Universe Australia" organisation. This contest, which exclusively sends contestants to Miss Universe, was made famous by Jennifer Hawkins's victory in the 2004 Miss Universe pageant in Quito, Ecuador. Jennifer became only the second Australian woman ever to win the international title, following Kerry Anne Wells who won the pageant in 1972.

For the Miss World contest, a "Miss World Australia" is chosen through screenings. In previous years, titleholders from the original "Miss World Australia" contest were sent to "Miss World". Penelope Plummer became Australia's first "Miss World" in 1968.

In 2005, "Miss Earth Australia" was incepted. The first nationwide search for an official contestants for the Miss Earth pageant drew nearly 80 Australian women for the pageant final held in Sydney. The 2005 winner is Ann-Maree Bowdler, 1st Runner Up Elinor Lascelles, second Runner Up Katie Ford. Ann-Maree claimed 3rd place in the talent section of the International Final held in Manila and the Philippines.

[edit] Sources and Further Reading

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