The idea of being crowned Lightning Ridge’s 39th Opal Queen drew a strong field of nine very accomplished local ladies keen to contest the title.

The girls partook in a rigorous judging process which saw them interviewed one at a time by a panel of three judges from the ACT Women in Racing before they were presented to a crowd of 300 people who were anxiously awaiting their arrival in the auditorium at the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club.

However there could only be one winner and, after much deliberation, the spokesperson for the judges, Phillippa Doble announced to loud applause that Kathryn Brogan was the 2010 Opal Queen.

The judges did note they had been very impressed by all entrants’ passion for their hometown. Sue King from the ACT Women in Racing said the reason so many of their members had wanted to travel all the way out to Lightning Ridge and be involved in the 2010 Opal Queen was because last year’s Opal Queen, Lauren Molyneux, was such a fantastic ambassador for the town.

As part of the prize pack Ms Brogan, who was sponsored by Down to Earth Opals, will be a special guest at the Australian Opal Exhibition at the Gold Coast today and tomorrow. She will also attend the Black Opal Preview as a special guest of the ACT Women in Racing in February next year.

The prize pack, which was valued at over $10,000, also includes two nights’ accommodation at the Gold Coast, tickets to the Australian Opal Exhibition’s cocktail party, two nights’ accommodation in Canberra, an opal pendant from E. Gregory Sherman Opals, opal jewellery from Fantastic Flair, skin care vouchers and video vouchers from Zita’s Videos.

Ms Brogan, who came third in the 2008 Opal Queen, said she’d only entered the competition for a bit of fun so her win was very unexpected. However she said was looking forward to fulfilling all her responsibilities as the 2010 Opal Queen with great anticipation.