A new ambassador and reasons to be thankful

Miss Newcastle 2013 culminated with a spectacular event at Farmer’s Hall on Saturday evening.

Throughout the last few months, I have been lucky enough to join the Ladies Lions Club as they trained and prepared the 21 beautiful contestants for the final event.

Week after week, the level of professionalism and determination, coupled with personal development shown by each contestant, made me realise that Newcastle really does have the cream of the crop!

On the night itself, Newcastillians supported the pageant with enthusiasm and fine spirits – it is always heartwarming to see the level of support events like the Miss Newcastle generate.

I have been living in Newcastle for most of my life, and over the last few years especially, I’ve noticed the effort organisations such as the Lions Club make in order to provide entertainment for a good cause.

People often say that there’s nothing to do in Newcastle, but how about supporting local initiatives?

For a small(ish) city, we are privileged enough to have the best of both worlds. Here’s what I love about Newcastle:

• Hardly any traffic – have you tried navigating peak hours in Johannesburg and Durban? Be thankful!
• A spirit of community – this is very hard to come by in large cities.
• Peace and quiet – we’re surrounded by the majestic mountains; people pay for the stunning views we get to enjoy every day!
• We’re in the middle of two great cities – not a long drive to either Gauteng or Durban, which is perfect for weekends away.

The list can go on for ages, but my main point is that we should be thankful for our community, and each other.

Congratulations to our newly crowned Miss Newcastle 2013, Amy Bushell, who will no doubt serve her term with grace, compassion and dedication.

To the Miss Newcastle contestants – it has been wonderful watching your journey and I wish all of you the best!