Happy memories for new Queen

THE crown has been returned and 2009 Jacaranda Queen Mackenzie Harvison has attended her last official function – for a while at least.

Despite being tired and having extraordinarily sore cheek muscles from all the smiling she has done in the past 10 days, Mackenzie said she would do it all over again if she could.

“My Jacaranda experience has been absolutely amazing and I have been able to have it with eight of the most amazing girls,” she said.

“My party and I have attended over 60 functions in a week where we were all welcomed warmly and our presence was genuinely appreciated.”

The 20-year-old said the highlight was participating in the float precession as part of the candidates’ drive and seeing the happy reactions from the crowd.

“To hear people call your name from the side of the road is a very surreal thing,” Mackenzie said.

“The amount of people who know my name now is crazy.”

Mackenzie’s Facebook page has also become very popular, with many locals wanting to become her ‘friend’.

“I barely ever get people requesting to be my friend or writing on my wall but there have been heaps of people who have sent me friend requests. It’s a little flattering,” she said.