💜It’s officially JaCaringa Season!💜

Discover what’s on this JaCaringa for the Caringa Community, check out some memories of past Festivals and join the Caringa Community as we celebrate JaCaringa 2024.

Please like, share, comment and bring the purple vibes along with us all Festival.
We LOVE to see it!!!

Tag @Caringa Australia and #JACARINGA2024 if you are out and about, or ask your Support Team or Team Leader to email your photos to hello@caringa.com.au so that we can share with the wider community how we ALL love to live #acompletelife

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Previously on the Blog: Dive into JaCaringa

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Join us on JaCaringa Thursday: Under the Sea

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On the Ground: LIVE

Jacaringa 2024 Updates 📸

Saturday, November 2nd –

Newcastle Permanent FLOAT PROCESSION

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Image Credit: Brendan Ryan
Pixelizm Photography, 2024

Saturday, November 2nd –

Newcastle Permanent FLOAT PROCESSION

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EVERYONE in the Caringa Community; staff, Board, Support Workers, Members, participants past and present, family, folks and friends were encouraged to join the fun for the 2024 Newcastle Permanent Grafton Jacaranda Festival Float Procession! The team wore their most fabulous Parade outfit and dressed in our Caringa Spark colours of orange, yellow & red. ❤️⭐🧡

Handing out hundreds of #JACARINGA2024 stickers, bringing the tunes and waving up and down Prince Street, we are so proud of the Caringa Crew who showed up and showed the crowd what the Caringa Spark is made of – loud and proud!!

Images captured by Caringa Crew: Jane R & Angela

Friday, November 1st – JACARINGA Out & ABOUT

Shaunna was pretty happy to wake up to see a First Light Ballooning hot hair balloon landing down near the backyard in the paddock.
We can imagine it is such a spectacular way to view the purple-lined streets of the Festival and beyond!

Images captured by DSW Annette
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THURSDAY, October 31st – JACARINGA THURSDAY “Under The Sea“

Everyone was invited into Castle Hub for #JaCaringa at 144 Fitzroy Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday for bubbles, mermaid braids, and an underwater adventure with the Caringa Community.

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The Castle Hub Community have been diving into their creativity and created a spectacular seascape for our 2024 JaCaringa Theme; Under The Sea This JaCaringa Thursday will be shrimp-ly amazing as we all dive into the o-fish-al 2024 JaCaringa at Caringa

All Caringa staff, community, friends, family and fish have been encouraged to dress up in our finest “Under The Sea” fashion and float into Castle Hub to check out the sand-sational creations, decorations, and activities everyone has been kelp-ing each other to create.

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Let’s shell-ebrate good times, come on!

HAPPY JaCaringa 2024 EVERYONE!!!!!

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THURSDAY, October 31st –

FINDEX GRAFTON: Purple Pack 90 Years in Bloom Business Competition

Findex Grafton sponsored the Purple Pack competitions for the Grafton Jacaranda Festival again in this very special year, the 90th Anniversary of the Festival!

The business performances and judging of the winners of the Gold Cup and Silver Cup are always one of the highlights of Jacaranda Thursday.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Gold Cup – Dougherty Property, Richie Williamson MP, and Radio 2GF Grafton – Maclean & Yamba.

Thanks Findex Grafton!

All images below by Findex Grafton via Facebook

SPARK STUDIO + CULTURE CLUB

Chase, Emma, Jayden, Ellie, Darnell and Leah have been creating in Spark Studio and Culture this month; working on combining digital music, photography, poetry, art and storytelling in some spectacular works, now on display in the corridor to the public at 144 Fitzroy St.

Spark Studio and Culture Club are weekly programs under the Caringa x talent.ed Custom Employment Pathway. They are inclusive, casual, and collaborative sessions designed for everyone learning or living in the new media world and incorporating the arts and culture industry.

Discover Culture Club – Read more here

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Discover Spark Studio – Read more here

Wednesday 30th October – VALLEY SCHOOLS ON SHOW

Caringa Community members Zac & Kim enjoying in Market Square with the iconic Jaca Jill!
Images captured by DSW Kim
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Wednesday 30th October – VALLEY SCHOOLS ON SHOW

Caringa Crew Lisa & Ang enjoying in Market Square with the iconic Jaca Jill!
Images captured by Caringa Crew Ruby
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Saturday 26th October – Westlawn Jacaranda Royal Party Crowning

*Images captured by Caringa Crew: Angela*

A large contingent of the Caringa Community was out and about on Saturday evening at Market Square to watch the crowing ceremony of the 2024 Jacaranda Queen and Royal Party.

Caringa’s Communications, Community Engagement & Marketing Officer Mackenzie was invited to sing the National Anthem; and we were Welcomed to Country by Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung elder Aunty Jannay Daley.

Surrounded by smiles, snacks and so many people, the vibes were high across the evening as we eagerly awaited the announcement of the 2024 Royal Party.

Congrats to all involved on a fantastic night. 💜

Congratulations to the 2024 Royal Party

2024 Jacaranda Queen – Alice Jabour

2024 Jacaranda Princess – Imogen Jablonski

2024 Jacaranda Royal Member – Amelia McLachlan

2024 Jacaranda Junior Queen – Isabella Roughley

2024 Jacaranda Junior Prince – Caleb Foster

2024 Jacaranda Junior Royal Party Members – Chantell Claydon & Pippa Creighton

2024 Jacaranda Matron of Honour – Dannielle Bower

2024 Jacaranda Guest of Honour – Jo Powell

2024 Jacaranda Master Of Ceremonies – Member for Clarence Richie Williamson

2024 Jacaranda Mini Royal Party:

Flower Girl – Lilly McKenzie

Page Boy – Tae Woods

Party Princess – Lilly Worthy

Party Prince – Tennyson Yager

Friday 25th October – RIVER DREAMING

Our CEO of JaCaringa; Leon was also on the ground for Day 1 of the Festival, checking out the official River Dreaming opening event.
“Market Square is looking radiant this morning, and we are blessed to meet and live on Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl lands. River Dreaming from 10am till 2pm today is a celebration of culture on Country.”