It was a scintillating evening at the Empire Theatre, Toowoomba on Monday, 13th September with the 2010 Carnival of Flowers Young Ambassador Awards Presentation Ceremony.
The 13 entrants stepped out on to red carpet on arrival at the Empire forecourt, where an informal reception was taking place with fire twirlers, and drinks and nibblies.
Adjourning indoors, the audience was treated to musical entertainment, past and present Carnival Queens and Ambassadors, and the Awards presentation ceremony, compered by Channel 10 Weather Girl, Amanda McLeay.
The TCOF Young Ambassador Program Committee called on three judges, Tony Minasi, Ann-Marie Ryan and Mary Wagner to ultimately select the individual awards.
The 2010 Young Ambassador was announced by Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor, Peter Taylor.
And the Winners are:
2010 Young Ambassador Award: Lauren Gray (Sponsored by Downlands College)
Congenial Award (joint winner) Lauren Gray (Sponsored by Downlands College)
Fundraising Award: Lauren Gray (Sponsored by Downlands College)
1st Runner-up: Nicole Whiting (Sponsored by FK Gardner and Sons)
Encouragement Award: Lauren Blakeley (Sponsored by Horizon Wealth Invest)
Congenial Award (joint winner): Kate Harley (Sponsored by Ambrosiussen Accountants and Advisors)
Entrepreneur Award: Dave Granfield (Sponsored by Star GardenTown Café and Chipironi Mountain Coffee)
All entrants, Dave Granfield, Lauren Blakeley, Kate Harley, Lucy Mayne, Leila Carrick, Nicole Whiting, Staicee Barber, Lauren Gray, Sarah-Jane MacDonald, Coralie Mainwaring, Natalie Webb, Jim Forsyth and Akech Manyok, can hold their heads high, having helped raise $30,000 this year for the Toowoomba Hospice and the Kath Dickson Centre, and truly embracing what it means to be an ambassador for the region.