Welcome from regional general manager of south-west Queensland for News Corp, Rohan Gosstray

FOR the last 69 years, The Chronicle has sponsored the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and loved every minute.

We’re even more excited for this year’s Carnival and everything that goes with it.

In addition to sponsoring the Carnival each year, we are also the proud organisers of The Chronicle Garden Competition and have been since 1949.

Our garden competition has grown over the years — from just 53 gardens entered in 1950 to 114 gardens this year, each of which are open to visitors now during the Carnival.

Thinking back to my comments last year, I am reminded of just how much we owe to our gardeners, whose hard work and dedication attract thousands upon thousands of visitors to Toowoomba each year.

Our gardeners are truly our city’s greatest ambassadors; they are the heart and soul of the Carnival and Toowoomba would not be the ‘Garden City’ without them.

We also sponsor The Chronicle Exhibition Gardens.

These gardens are not entrants in The Chronicle Garden Competition but are display gardens that raise money for charity.

Since its inception in 1973, there have been about 55 display gardens, which have collectively raised more than $645,000 for various charities and community groups.

We hope you are having a fantastic Carnival of Flowers.