Ugly Man Contest

In 1959, the Fisher's Ghost Festival Committee organised a "Back to Campbelltown Week" as part of the festival's celebrations. They decided to organise a novelty competition during this week to replace the Festival Queen contest that had been run since the inaugural year of 1956. This competition was to be an Ugly Man contest where the local candidates representing various community organisations were to raise as much money as possible. The winner was not so much the ugliest man but the one who raised the most money.

On the evening of March 7, 1959 at just after 11pm an afternoon and evening of carnival and contests culminated in the crowning of the Ugly Man by the mayor. The winner of the dubious title of Ugly Man was Les Warby, representing the Rotary Club. He had raised 541 pounds. A crown was placed on his head and a blue sash hung around his shoulders. Second prize went to Ray Percival who raised only 15 pounds less than Les. "I feel proud of the result" said Les Warby. Ray commented "It was one of the happiest times I have had here".

The Ugly Man contest ended up being a one off. The following year was a Mr and Mrs Campbelltown contest with a Mr and Mrs Sharpless winning the honour. The next year saw a return to the Festival Queen quest with the name changed to Miss Spirit. The quest continues today with the Miss Princess contest as part of the Fisher's Ghost Festival held every November.

Les Warby appears to have died on March 14, 1965.

Do you have any memories of the Ugly Man contest? Did you know Les Warby? Please let us know if you do.

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Campbelltown-Ingleburn News, March 10 1959

Forty Three Years Ago

By now you are probably aware that South Sydney won their first premiership in 43 years last Sunday (this is a touchy subject for this mad Canterbury Bulldogs supporter). Last week I watched a number of news reports that showed what the country and the world was up to 43 years ago when Souths last won the 1971 premiership. So I thought I would look and see what Campbelltown was up to for the week of the 1971 Grand Final by checking out the Campbelltown Ingleburn News for Tuesday, September 14, 1971.

The front page was dominated by plans for Lend Lease Homes to extend the present Sherwood Hills (now Bradbury) housing project.  Plans for lakes and natural open space were high on the agenda. Also on the front page was a photograph of Jo Meyerink with the mayor of the day Clive Tregear. Jo won the Miss Spirit of Campbelltown contest for 1971. In those days the Fisher's Ghost Festival was held in September. Another heading on the front page talked about a "Record Issue" with the paper proudly announcing that this issue contained a record 44 pages!

A large section of the newspaper was dedicated to the upcoming local government elections. A pre-election round up was provided with each candidate promoting their credentials. One thing that struck me was the number of candidates wearing the typical thick coke bottle glasses of that era! The newspaper took a humorous look at the election with page 12 describing the field for the "1971 Campbelltown Stakes". One such horse was Yvonne Bentley (by Big Effort from Likeable Lass). She was described as a petite filly having her first run in this event.

Also making news was the appointment of B.P. McDonald as the new Town Clerk for Campbelltown Council. Four pages of the paper was given to the 125th anniversary of the Methodist Church in Oxley Street, Campbelltown.

Another headline that jumped out at me was a remark made by a Mr P.H. Morton M.L.A. accusing State Member for Campbelltown Cliff Mallam of being a "first class coward". Morton was annoyed that Mallam "talked about a letter but didn't have the guts to lay it on the table of the house". The matter concerned the sale of Campbelltown Golf Course.

Some of the advertisements are interesting and occasionally amusing. Burrows and Hawthorne Photographers advertised children's portraits in colour for only 48 cents. You could also buy a leg of lamb from Coles New World for $1.59! Or perhaps a tub of Eta margarine for 33 cents.

While Souths were preparing to take on St George that week, a last minute field goal to the Campbelltown Kangaroos at Duguid Oval against the RSL Warriors sent them into the Group 6 Grand Final.

So completed a busy news week in Campbelltown 43 years ago.

"M.A.S.H." Float in Fisher's Ghost Parade on 4 September, 1971 (Hugh Bairnsfather Collection)

Written by Andrew Allen

Source:

Campbelltown-Ingleburn News 14 September, 1971

We Need Your Help!

Campbelltown Library recently had some photographs donated to us. One of these photographs (above) is of a Fisher's Ghost Festival street parade in the early 1960s. The image shows a large group of girls in front of a banner that reads "The Flying Garlands" (click on the image for a larger view). Behind this banner are others that read Please Help! Note the young girl at the front about to perform a hand stand.

The photograph is taken in Queen Street near the corner of Browne Street. In the background is the old Macquarie Cinema demolished in 1979 and a house now also demolished.

Does anyone know who the flying garlands were? Please let us know.

Written by Andrew Allen

Update

One of our library staff located a State Library photograph of a group of girls performing acrobatics in the same parade on the same day. The photo has a caption of "Parade and fete in Campbelltown to aid the Beverley Park Orthopaedic Hospital for handicapped children". It is dated the 5th of September, 1957.