The ACT’s busy schedule of festivals, parties, celebrations and commemorations has prompted ArchivesACT to look to past competitions conducted on Canberra Day as its Find of the Month for April.
In a statement accompanying the Find, ArchivesACT said that several decades ago one of the most anticipated activities on Canberra Day was the street procession involving community groups, local businesses and Government employees.
It said the organisations spent months working in secret to build the perfect float in hopes of winning the title of Grand Champion.
“The winner of many of these processions was the National Capital Development Commission (NCDC),” the Archives said.
“With a decent budget and their own army of minions in the form of Government apprentices, these heavyweights won the coveted title 13 years in a row.
“The Department of Territories, who declined the opportunity to participate due to the substantial costs involved, may nevertheless have watched in frustration from the sidelines.”
It said that in 1986 however, the Department’s position changed and a plan was hatched in which designs were promoted and an elite team of float-building ‘ninjas’ put together in a workshop in their own time to build a float to try and take out the competition.
“The Department of Territories undertook the administration of the ACT until 1987, while the NCDC was responsible for planning the National Capital. Together they were the forerunners to the ACT Government Service,” the Archives said.
Entry in the procession was relatively cheap at $20 for non-profit and $40 for commercial entrants. Procession entrants were given an official banner which was carried before each entry by local scouts or Duke of Edinburgh awardees.
There were five categories of entries including float, decorated vehicle, marching or pedestrian unit, entry with animals, and bands.
Awards were given to the most outstanding entrants under headings including best first-time entrant, commercial, Departmental and grand champion.
ArchivesACT said the Department of Territories’ entry was an outstanding success and was awarded Grand Champion of the 1987 Canberra Festival ending the NCDC’s domination.
“This would be the only win for the Department as it was disbanded in July 1987 to make way for the establishment of the ACT Administration in the lead-up to self-government,” the statement said.
ArchivesACT said it would be interested in hearing from anyone who was part of the Department of Territories’ winning team 32 years ago.
