Princesses All Are We!

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 15, 20 October 1933, Page 17

Princesses All Are We!

Early in November ‘Wellington is going to restore confidence in a big way. There is to be a carnival that will surpass anything in that line so far attempted in New Zealand. And, as usual in such functions, there is to be a "queen" contest, but with a difference; the popular Wellington girls who are taking part are to be labelled "princesses" and there will be only one queen--when the leading princess is crowned on the final night of the carnival.

al? >. wee os 4 OW for the’princesses themselves, and a charming group they are., There is Miss Gretta Stark, the sports princess, whose colours, as most Wellingtonians know by now, are yellow and black. Miss Stark is no stranger to Wellington people, for she has starred in many productions of the Wellington Repertory Society, and, for this talented young lady can‘sing as well, in some of the shows of the Wellington Operatic Society-many of the audience Are still humming "A Little Pink Petty from Peter," which, as sung by Miss Stark, was one of the highlights of the yecently-produced "Miss Hook of Holland." For sport, Miss Stark has not merely an onlooker’s interest, she Was 40 active basketball player for some six years, and has been made a life member of the association for her work for the sport. But that by no means exhausts Miss Stark’s interest, she is a keen golfer, and is often to be found on the Sunny Bay Golf Links; she plays lots of tennis, and, as if that were not enough, she fills in any odd moments with riding, to which she is devoted, or swimming. ‘he Community Services princess, Miss Phyllis Oliver, has also appeared behind the footlights-first at the early age of five, when she commenced a long series of successes in the dancing classes at the Wellington competitions. Her dancing has also taken her into several J. C. Williamson shows in this country, and those whose memories will carry them back a few years will remember her as principal dancer, with Mr. L. Younge, in the local Amateur Society’s production of "pytankahmen," in which Miss Gretta Stark also had a part. ° Miss Oliver is well known among charitable workers in Wellington for her untiring efforts in assisting the needy ; vy ata > mamemhered as "Cinderella" in the Mayor’s

aooew * Charity Ball of 1932, and she was prominent in the organisation of the Coster Ball this year. Still ‘another princess who is .0terested in dramatic work is Miss Eve Craddock, the Transport and Power re presentative, who first appeared before an audience when she was a pupil at Wellington Girls’ College; since then she has been cast in several local productions. Though she finds plenty time for sport, this princess is pursuing musical studies, and for four years she took honours ip the Trinity College musical examinations. Her selection as Transport and Power princess is most appropriate, as she Is employed by the Wellington City Council Plectricity Department, following her father, who served there for thirty years. Miss Craddock, whose colours are re and black, has the support of the tramways, railways, electricity, gas, motor trades, Carriers’ Association, and Aero Club in her .candidature. A passionate love of the sea makes Miss Nancy Olphert the obvious choice for Aquatic princess. Miss Olphert came from England with her parents, and their home at. Lower Hutt bears the name of

the village in Somerset-Hast Harptree-where they 41Ved at the foot of the Mendip Hills. Miss Olphert takes a keen interest in all sport, but, naturally enough, she favours swimming particularly. Miss Olphert has for many year's been prominent in the gir] guide movement, and she is now the popular mistress of a "prownie"’ pack at Moera. Wellington is rapidly becoming festooned with tne colours of the various princesses, a barometer to record the progress of the voting has been installed on the corner of the Bank of New Zealand building in Lambton Quay, and the energetic committees attached to the campaigns for the princesses are busily arranging other "stunts" to ensure the success of their respective candidates. T is a long time since Wellington staged a carnival on a really big scale. There was talk, hefore the dear, old depression, of a big exhibition on the lines of the Dunedin exhibition for Wellington in the early ‘thirties, but in the chaos and confusion of the last year or two the project seems to have been lost sight of. Auckland’s big cheer effort of a few months ago was tremendously successful, and £10,000 was raised for charity. The principal object of the National Cunfidence Carnival in the capital is not the raising of funds but just the spreading of the cheer germ. There is sure to be some money over, however, when the carniva! is concluded, so charity will not be forgotten. Wellington has been accused in the past of lacking civic pride-that, with a large floating population no one cares a tuppenny dump whether the city progresses or not. Here’s Wellington’s big chance to prove that the allegations are totally unfounded and that, given _ oe anaem Ggnanaeh

a week of good weather, it Cat pul on a earnival that all New Zealand will flock to and talk about for months to come.