Bridie Gould 2011 Alice Springs Showgirl

A big congratulations to nurse Bridie Gould, who took out the 2011 Alice Springs Showgirl title.

Announced at a presentation preceding the Grand Parade on the Friday afternoon of the show, Bridie narrowly beat runner-up Tanya Pass to be ‘sashed’ the winner by last year’s Showgirl Thea Dunkley. Bev Ellis spoke about the quality of the entrants and announced the winner on behalf of the judges, applauding all 13 of the girls who entered for their involvement in the competition and the wider Alice Springs Community.

At the presentation, winner of the Alice Cakes Cupcake Decorating Challenge, Sarah Barlas was awarded a Cookbook from Dymock’s and jewellery from Purple Empire for her win, whilst Bridie (prior to being announced the 2011 Showgirl) received a wallet from Mixed Lollies Boutique and jewellery from Purple Empire for her victory in the Desert Dwellers Speed Swag Rolling. Tanya was presented with a bouquet of flowers, a sash and prizes including a bag from Swank Shoes and a voucher from Cherri Red Hair Beauty Nails, for coming runner-up in the competition. For her win Bridie received a ‘swag’ of prizes, she was most excited about her wheelbarrow full of tools from Big O Mitre 10. For a list of all of our generous sponsors, please see our Showgirl page.

About the winner

Originally from Rainbow, VIC, Bridie studied nursing in Adelaide to become a ‘super-nurse’, like her grandmother, mother, aunts and sister. With a particular interest in paediatrics Bridie had been working in the Special Care nursery at the Alice Springs Hospital but has recently left to start a job with the Healthy Kids Team at Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, which she describes as “another amazing opportunity”. Of her work she says “It’s the best feeling in the world when you can help a new mother raise their premature baby and then see them in the street looking big and healthy!”.

Not one to take herself too seriously, Bridie says the aim of her involvement with Memo Rovers Netball Club as “We’re in the game to have a laugh, not step and shoot a few goals”. It could be said that Bridie would also be a handy person to take camping, she won the swag-rolling event at the judging picnic by rolling a swag in a little over 6 seconds!

Of her adopted home of Alice Springs our 2011 Showgirl says, “I have fallen for the Alice Springs way of life. It is a little town where you can almost always run into someone you know at the supermarket and have a chin wag. We live in such a diverse area of Australia and we are faced with many challenges that are totally left of centre but it’s our community spirit and dedication that allows us to thrive in this environment.”

Congratulations once again to Bridie, a very worthy winner!