The Alexandra Blossom Festival is the town’s biggest event of the year every September, and wouldn’t be possible without its amazing volunteers.

Te Wiki Tuao ā-Motu National Volunteer Week shines a spotlight on the incredible contributions of volunteers across the country, and we talked to one of the names who's been involved in many roles with the festival over the years.

Dianne Elliott was awarded the Jan Belt Memorial Trophy in recognition of an outstanding contribution to Alexandra Blossom Festival in 2018.

Starting off as secretary of the committee for 12 years from 1996 – 2008, she started helping the late Pam Love with the princesses in about 2004, then gradually took over from her.

After a break she came back in 2010 and also took on the job of finding all of the gatekeepers.

With five gates around Pioneer Park needing to be staffed all day of the festival, Dianne had to find 60 people in total to check tickets when the crowds came into the park.

There’s never been any shortage of volunteers for the role and even the reserve list had another 60 names on it.

“This means I can be calling up to 120 people to fill those five gates…some people have been working on the same gate in the same time slot for many years and don’t like change.  

“Unfortunately, some of these people are now getting to the stage where they feel they can’t do the job any more because of their age or ill health, which means we have to find fresh blood, with younger people, ideally those in the 30-45 age bracket whose kids don’t want anything to do with their parents on blossom festival day.”

Dianne’s other job was contacting businesses to get prizes for the gift packs for the princesses (and in the case of last year a prince too).

“At the moment there are 28 businesses involved. These businesses are very generous and without them it would be very difficult. Again, some have been giving gifts for many years.”

Then there was the three judges to organise, the the photographer, sashes, flowers for the three winners, events for the contestants to attend, (including the official judging), leading up to the Saturday of blossom festival, and the events for the three winners to attend - as well as doing all of the paperwork.

“I also organise people to count votes, usually 4-5 depending on the number of floats. We are on a tight timeline to get the votes counted prior to the official ceremony and again, we have a great team who come back year after year to help with this.”

The work doesn’t just stop there. On the day, Dianne delivered the flowers and gifts to the park, and once the procession was over, checked the contestants were okay on their float and being looked after with warm clothes (if necessary), water, until it’s time for them to get off (usually an hour and a half later).

One of many volunteer gatekeepers at the blossom festival.

Alexandra Blossom Festival chairwoman Sharleen Stirling-Lindsay said it was the volunteers who made the festival possible.

“The festival could not run if it wasn't for the amazing volunteers.”

“Volunteers make our community and event what it is and I am so grateful for the time and energy they give.”

Blossom Festival event manager Martin McPherson echoed her sentiment and said each volunteers’ generosity of spirit, time and talents was a true reflection of the community.

“The incredible dedication of so many wonderful people behind the scenes is what truly brings the Alexandra Blossom Festival to life.”

“Their efforts highlight the strong community spirit that makes this event so unique and cherished."