Sewing the seeds of tradition
Hodgkinson family mark 40 years of flower carnival fun
THE Hodgkinson family from Ormiston have been growing their Carnival of Flowers tradition ever since Paul and Helen married in 1981.
“We’ve been coming to Toowoomba every September for the better part of 40 years,” Mr Hodgkinson said.
“It’s just beautiful to be able to return to where my mother, Shirley Gibson lived on Mary Street, overlooking Queens Park and to be able to share this part of the world with our own grandchildren.”
Mr Hodgkinson, 65, said his grandfather, Ernie Gibson worked at the Toowoomba Foundry making Southern Cross Windmills, so he enjoyed being able to return to the region to share all of this family history with his children and grandchildren.
“We love staying in our caravans at the showgrounds together and getting out to all the private gardens and catching up with people we’ve been visiting for years,” Mrs Hodgkinson said.
“We became very close with long-time local garden competition winner Mr Mundy who has since passed, but we loved visiting his stunning garden overlooking Tabletop Mountain.”
The Hodgkinsons explained this year was particuand larly special because they had a new member in tow for the first time, with four-month-old grandson Fletcher joining in on the annual family getaway.
“We’ve made the trip up to Toowoomba for the carnival for as long as I can remember,” the Hodgkinson’s daughter, Elizabeth Oliveri, 35, said.
“It’s lovely to be able to make new family memories traditions somewhere so close to my dad’s heart in a city that has played such a big part in his family’s heritage.”