Mum joins Jaca quest

JUGGLING three children, two jobs and a TAFE course, one might at first wonder how Kirrily Tough will add being a Jacaranda Queen candidate to her already full life.

But the 28-year-old from South Grafton is determined to inspire women across the Clarence to get involved in the annual tradition.

“I’ve always wanted to do it,” she said of the quest.

“I’ve put it off through life circumstances – marriage and kids – but I helped a candidate a few years ago and it inspired me to get involved.

“If I can do it with my schedule, anyone can.”

Kirrily’s week includes three days working for her sponsor Country Hospitality Services; another day’s work at Many Rivers Opportunities; two nights a week at TAFE studying a Certificate III in Financial Services; and raising her children Logan, 4, Lilly, 2 and Bridgette, 11 months, alongside husband Shanon.

To this she will add four Jacaranda Queen fundraising events this year.

They will include a Mother’s Day drawing competition for local school children, a June fashion show in a ‘hidden oasis’, a mid-winter shopping trip to Robina Town Centre in July, and a September wine tasting evening at the award-winning Hewitt Street Balinese garden.

Kirrily, who grew up in Grafton, moved to the Gold Coast when she was 18.

She returned in 2006 when she and Shanon decided their hometown was the best place to raise their family.

Kirrily said it was her own fond childhood memories of the quest that encouraged her to get involved.

“As a child you think they’re special – that they’re real queens. I want to keep that going for my kids. It’s nice for them to have someone they look up to.”