Singleton-born Julie Fleck and Muswellbrook​’s Ashley Ginn are among 14 women competing for The Northern Daily Leader Queen of Country Music Quest title during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The quest, a festival tradition established in 1984, involves local women aged between 18 and 35 seeking  sponsorship from local employers and businesses to create participation in and promotion of the sponsors of the event.

The hunt for the Queen is already in full swing.

Dressed in pink shirts, sashed and rocking an iconic straw cowgirl hat, entrants have been out and about during the festival helping at events, welcoming visitors to the region and raising money for charity.

They’ve also already undertaken Toastmasters, etiquette and make-up training.

Julie Fleck is loving her second festival since moving to the country music capital in August 2016.

She grew up in Singleton, before heading east to study engineering at the University of Newcastle.

She then followed her fiance south to Melbourne, where she completed her degree. 

The couple wanted to be closer to their families in Newcastle and Singleton, so made the decision to settle down in Tamworth, where Julie works as an engineer at Tamworth Regional Council.

The 26-year-old admits she wasn’t always the biggest country music fan, but that quickly changed when she met her now-husband seven years ago.

Meet the other Queens

“My husband is a massive country music fan,” she said.

“He had all these CDs and was always going on about this artist and that artist, so seeing them all now is great.”

Julie threw her hat into the ring for Queen of Country Music Quest to make new friends and immerse herself in a new community.

“Growing up I was always involved in the community through jobs, netball and you had your school group,” she said.

“So Tamworth was all new. It’s been really good getting out of your comfort zone, getting out into the community.”

Ashley Ginn grew up in the town of Muswellbrook and, after stints in Sydney and Cairns, moved to Tamworth with her fiance to be closer to family. 

“(Muswellbrook) was pretty quiet,” she said.

“I filled my time with a lot of sporting events and school.”

When Ashley finished school, she moved to Sydney to work across the retail and hospitality industries. 

“Cairns offered me a few different opportunities, so we moved there in October 2014,” she said.

“I worked in tourism, it was a big change.”

The 26-year-old and her fiance moved to Tamworth in September 2016.

“My family’s in Muswellbrook and my fiance’s family is from Uralla, so Tamworth is smack bang in the middle.”

This is Ashley’s second festival, but her first competing in the quest.

“It’s been awesome,” she said.

“It’s the atmosphere I love. You walk down the street and everyone is smiling.

“I’ve always liked country music. This makes you like it more.

“It’s about meeting new people.”

The entrants will face an official interview panel on Wednesday, before judges crown the Queen on Sunday night.

Name: Julie Fleck

Age: 26.

From: Singleton.

Who is your sponsor: Tamworth Regional Council.

Why did you enter the quest?

The Queen Quest offers me the opportunity of experiencing the Tamworth Country Music Festival from a new perspective and to give back to the community that has been so welcoming to me. I’m excited to be involved.

Meet the other Queens

What is the most interesting thing about you?

I have an entrepreneurial streak and a never-ending appetite for new hobbies. Over the years I have tried a range of new past times including, sewing wallets and handbags, making soap, weaving textiles, making jams, canning chutneys and meat preserves, and the art of fermentation. More recently I began making dog collars and leads, and held a stall at the Tamworth Growers Market for a number of months.

Where would you send someone to visit if they were in Tamworth for the first time? One of my favourite things about living in Tamworth is being able to live so close to town, but still being so close to the great outdoors. Living in a big city, or even suburbia, it can be easy to forget how stunning the Australian landscape can be. Since moving to Tamworth, we’ve had many friends and family come and visit, and we always try to take our guests for a walk up Flagstaff Mountain. The walk itself is kind, but the views from the top are spectacular. For those short on time and passing through, the views from Moonbi Lookout are also impressive.

What's your favourite thing about the Country Music Festival? I was captivated by the vibrancy and sense of community that Tamworth showcased for the 2017 festival. I think the biggest thing that sets the Tamworth Country Music Festival apart for me is the diversity in both performers and festivalgoers. It’s such a unique opportunity to be able to experience seasoned professionals with countless accolades to their name, playing in the same space as emerging talented artists embarking on the start of their journey.

Who or what is your favourite band and/or song? To me the Tamworth Country Music Festival is about the new artists and new songs. I love finding new artists to follow and the authenticity of live music. A number of years ago I heard Cooper Lower, an acoustic guitarist, busking outside a craft fair and I approached him about performing at my then-fiancé’s and my wedding. At only 15, and performing his first function, he blew away my guests and won himself many new fans on the night. In the three years since, it has been an honour to watch Cooper develop his talent and he recently released his second album. For that reason, the Tamworth Country Music Festival is an opportunity to take some time to enjoy the emerging artists and find a new favourite band or artist.

What has been the best thing about the Queen quest so far?

I joined the Queen Quest to meet new friends, and I’ve been lucky enough to meet some wonderful and inspiring people throughout the quest so far. Having moved to Tamworth 18 months ago, the Queen Quest has been a fantastic means to meet people I may not have had the opportunity to meet.

What would you do if you were crowned Queen? 

If I were to be crowned Queen, I would hope to be a worthy representative for Tamworth and the Country Music Festival. It would be an honour to be chosen as Country Music Queen, and I would strive to fulfil the role to the best of my ability with class, integrity and dignity.

What Queen responsibility or perk are you most looking forward to? 

The Queen responsibility I would most look forward to is the opportunity to immerse myself in civic events while meeting new people. Being chosen to represent Tamworth Regional Council has already been a privilege and the possibility to experience the Tamworth Country Music Festival from a new perspective is a perk unto itself. I’m excited to share my love of Tamworth with the community and would be honoured to continue the noble work achieved by previous Queens and Princesses. 

Meet the other Queens

Name:​ ​​Ashley​ ​Ginn 

Age:​​ ​26. 

From:​​ ​I​ ​am​ ​originally​ ​from​ ​Muswellbrook​ ​but​ ​moved​ ​to​ ​Tamworth​ ​from​ ​Cairns​ ​in 2016. 

Who​ ​is​ ​your​ ​sponsor?​​ ​My​ ​sponsor​ ​is​ ​The​ ​Northern​ ​Daily​ ​Leader​ ​-​ ​who​ ​I​ ​also​ ​work for. 

Why​ ​did​ ​you​ ​enter​ ​the​ ​quest?​ ​​​​I​ ​entered​ ​to​ ​quest​ ​because​ ​I​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​some new​ ​people,​ ​make​ ​some​ ​new​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​also​ ​to​ ​give​ ​back​ ​to​ ​the​ ​community. 

Meet the other Queens

What​ ​is​ ​the​ ​most​ ​interesting​ ​thing​ ​about​ ​you?​​ ​When​ ​I​ ​lived​ ​in​ ​Cairns​ ​I​ ​lived​ ​in​ ​a tree​ ​house.​ ​I​ ​had​ ​to​ ​access​ ​the​ ​house​ ​by​ ​a​ ​bridge.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​amazing,​ ​surrounded​ ​by nature​ ​and​ ​wildlife. 

Where​ ​would​ ​you​ ​send​ ​someone​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​if​ ​they​ ​were​ ​in​ ​Tamworth​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first time?  

​If​ ​the​ ​visitor​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​do​ ​something​ ​within​ ​Tamworth​ ​I​ ​would​ ​send​ ​them​ ​to​ ​the Golden​ ​Guitar​ ​-​ ​not​ ​only​ ​has​ ​this​ ​got​ ​an​ ​amazing​ ​history​ ​and​ ​story​ ​behind​ ​it​ ​but​ ​the visitor​ ​information​ ​centre​ ​that​ ​it​ ​backs​ ​onto​ ​is​ ​great.​ ​It​ ​has​ ​so​ ​much​ ​information​ ​on the​ ​town,​ ​a​ ​café,​ ​a​ ​wax​ ​museum,​ ​a​ ​gift​ ​shop​ ​etc. If​ ​the​ ​visitor​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​do​ ​something​ ​out​ ​of​ ​town​ ​I​ ​would​ ​suggest​ ​taking​ ​a​ ​trip​ ​to​ ​the little​ ​town​ ​of​ ​Uralla,​ ​roughly​ ​an​ ​hour’s​ ​drive​ ​from​ ​Tamworth.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​a​ ​very​ ​historical​ ​town filled​ ​with​ ​amazing​ ​pubs,​ ​cafes,​ ​wineries​ ​and ​heritage​ ​walks.​ ​The​ ​residents​ ​of​ ​the​ ​town are​ ​super​ ​friendly,​ ​welcoming​ ​and​ ​accommodating. 

What’s​ ​your​ ​favourite​ ​thing​ ​about​ ​the​ ​Country​ ​Music​ ​Festival? I​ ​love​ ​the​ ​atmosphere​ ​that​ ​surrounds​ ​the​ ​town​ ​during​ ​the​ ​festival​ ​period.​ ​Walking down​ ​Peel​ ​Street,​ ​you​ ​can’t​ ​help​ ​but​ ​smile​ ​because​ ​everyone​ ​is​ ​so​ ​happy. 

Who​ ​or​ ​what​ ​is​ ​your​ ​favourite​ ​band​ ​and/or​ ​song? When​ ​I​ ​think​ ​about​ ​my​ ​favourite​ ​song​ ​or​ ​artist,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​so​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​narrow​ ​it​ ​down because​ ​I​ ​like​ ​so​ ​many​ ​artists​ ​such​ ​as:​ ​Keith​ ​Urban,​ ​Kasey​ ​Chambers​ ​and​ ​The McClymonts. 

What​ ​has​ ​been​ ​the​ ​best​ ​thing​ ​about​ ​the​ ​Queen​ quest​ ​so​ ​far? That​ ​I​ ​have​ ​met​ ​some​ ​amazing​ ​ladies and​ ​made​ ​new​ ​friends. 

What​ ​would​ ​you​ ​do​ ​if​ ​you​ ​were​ ​crowned​ Queen?

If​ ​I​ ​was​ ​crowned​ ​Queen​ ​I​ ​would​ ​represent​ ​and​ ​promote​ ​what​ ​Tamworth,​ ​the community​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Country​ ​Music​ ​Festival​ ​stand​ ​for,​ ​with​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​my​ ​skills​ ​and knowledge​ ​through​ ​networking​ ​and​ ​social​ ​media.​ ​

While​ ​working​ ​for​ ​the​ ​local newspaper,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​had​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​become​ ​the​ ​face​ ​of​ ​The​ ​Northern​ ​Daily Leader​ ​or​ ​“Director​ ​of​ ​First​ ​Impressions”;​ ​by​ ​gaining​ ​this​ ​role​ ​I​ ​have​ ​had​ ​the​ ​pleasure of​ ​meeting​ ​and​ ​helping​ ​many​ ​Tamworth​ ​residents​ ​and​ ​the​ ​community​ ​with​ ​their inquiries.​ ​

To​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​give​ ​back​ ​to​ ​the​ ​community​ ​by​ ​being​ ​an​ ​ambassador​ ​of Tanworth​ ​would​ ​be​ ​an​ ​amazing​ ​experience. 

What​ ​Queen​ ​responsibility​ ​or​ ​perk​ ​are​ ​you​ ​most​ ​looking​ ​forward​ ​to? I​ ​look​ ​forward​ ​to​ ​being​ ​able​ ​to​ ​represent​ ​the​ ​town​ ​of​ ​Tamworth​ ​and​ ​my​ ​sponsor/work at​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​events​ ​during​ ​the​ ​Country​ ​Music​ ​Festival.​ ​Being​ ​able​ ​to​ ​interact​ ​with​ ​the community​ ​on​ ​a​ ​daily​ ​basis,​ ​getting​ ​to​ ​know​ ​people​ ​in​ ​the​ ​town​ ​and​ ​help​ ​out wherever​ ​I​ ​am​ ​needed. 

Meet the other Queens