Cherry queens of the town

Emma Blake

Emma is a local girl at heart who loves the country and especially Young. 

The 19-year-old entrant is really looking forward to the fundraising portion of the competition. 

Emma has said that she’d like to hold three big events to raise funds for motor neurone disease.

“Most people would expect me to do something to do with brain tumors because of my Mum, but MND touches so many local people’s lives,” she said.

“It’s not about votes or being popular, it’s about finding a cure for MND and those affected by the disease.” 

Emma is hoping to organise a team penning and sorting weekend as one of her events and wants to come up with some ‘out of the box’ ideas for her other two events to raise money.

Emma describes herself as a community minded, people person who enjoys horses, boxing and all sports.

Emma’s decision to enter the annual competition was solidified with her Dad and Young Equine Centre’s announcement of the Rodeo.

“I always wanted to do it, I just didn’t know when.” 

After the announcement her father and a few other organisers asked her if she would put her name forward. Emma has high hopes for the future with plans to eventually become a police officer and return to Young to serve.

Jade Nolan

Jade is another local who was born and bred in Young and is probably most recognisable from her job working at Woolworths.

Jade loves to read enjoying authors like Abbi Glines as well as New Adult Paranormal Romance author Amanda Hocking as has said she is ‘a sucker for a romance’.

Jade’s charity for the Cherry Queen competition will be Variety with the Woolies employee already involved in fundraising for the children’s charity even before the Cherry Queen entrant entered the competition.

Jade said she learnt about Variety through Woolworths and really believes in what the organisation does and stands for.

Her main reason for entering the Cherry Queen competition was for the fundraising side of things as well as getting out and involved in the community in the hopes of inspiring future entrants.

“It’s such a great opportunity,” Jade said. “It’s hard work but worth it.”

Jade is hoping to run four main events in the lead up to the Cherry Festival with one each month.

“In a perfect world I’d have a movie night, a quick shear and a 70s disco,” Jade said.

Her final event that she is hoping to run in November is a mini-ute-muster with music and entertainment.