A reversal of fortunes after teetering on the brink of extinction five years ago means the Alexandra Blossom Festival is in good heart leading up to its 60th birthday, organisers say.
Five successive years of profits have reinforced the event is back on track ''but it's not all about the money'', festival chairwoman Clair Higginson told the committee's annual meeting this week.
''The success of the festival is not all about the money; it's about us and it's about our community cohesion,'' she told the 16 people who attended the meeting.
The festival faltered after three successive years of losses from 2007-09 and was declared technically insolvent in 2010, with a question mark over its future.
A public meeting was held to gauge support and public donations and a bail-out by the Vincent Community Board meant the 2010 festival went ahead and was successful, making a modest profit.
Ms Higginson said event manager Martin McPherson was given a tall order every year.
''We ask him to produce the same, but different, each year, keeping the elements that have kept it going since 1956 but including new events to keep it relevant for today - it's a tall order,'' she said.
The 2014 festival made a profit of $17,754, following on from profits in 2013 ($5925), 2012 ($13,500), 2011 ($27,149) and 2010 ($30,000).
This year will be the 59th festival and the float procession will be on September 26. Planning is already under way for the 60th celebration.
Ms Higginson said the introduction of ''Florreys'' - decorated supermarket trolleys- created excitement and humour in last year's parade.
''I think they'll continue to grow every year, but on the other hand, we don't want to lose our traditional floats which are so much part of the parade.''
The supporting events helped provide depth to the festival, she said.
Wool On had become an ''iconic'' part of the event and there would be some changes to its governance and operation over the next two years ''recognising its importance as an event in its own right''.
Committee member Tim Cadogan thanked Ms Higginson for chairing the festival committee for the past five years, ''through some scary moments at the outset''.
The 2015 committee is: Clair Higginson, Claire Goudie, Georgie McLean, Sandra Clark, Tim Cadogan, Fay Kennedy, Rochelle Weir and Annie Wright.
