The 1931 Waiuta jubilee celebrations had an extended prelude in the form of a Queen Carnival, with local organisations competing to see which could raise the most money and have their queen crowned on the big day. That honour went to Hester Nitschke, representing the king of local sports, rugby league. Funds went to building local facilities, including a swimming pool which can still be seen at Waiuta. Having ‘HRH’ and her entourage pose in front of the mine buildings no doubt appealed to the photographer's eye for the paradoxical.
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