For the third year in a row, the Alexandra Blossom Festival has posted a profit. Although down on the previous two years' returns, it netted a profit of just over $13,500, committee treasurer Georgie McLean said at the annual meeting last night.
Four years ago, the festival was more than $80,000 in debt but now it had about $80,000 in equity.
Committee chairwoman Clair Higginson said an objective of the festival was to return money to the community. Now, the plan was to recruit groups to help with the festival instead of granting money once the festival was over.
Event manager Martin McPherson said members of the Alexandra Rugby Club were hired as labourers last year. They were paid enough to enable the club to provide uniforms for its junior teams.
Ms Higginson said broadening the rules around what could constitute a parade float was a good move as it created ''quite fierce competition''. The festival committee was re-elected unopposed.
They are Ms Higginson, as chairwoman, Tim Cadogan, Craig Howard, Peter Breen, Maureen Crampton, Fay Kennedy and Christine Heywood, who resigned as secretary to take up a position on the committee. Sandra Clark was appointed secretary and Ms McLean reappointed treasurer.
