IB Woman
Issue No. 43 - October/November 2008
Pageant people power
by Penelope Herbert
Working with clowns, fairies, royals and pirates isn’t the usual job description for a manager but Jodie McDonald has been fulfilling every child’s dream by helping the Credit Union Christmas Pageant bring Christmas cheer to children and their families
each year.
As the manager for the Credit Union Pageant Company, Jodie’s role sees her working with the six sponsoring Credit Unions – Savings & Loans, Australian Central, Community CPS Australia, Police, Powerstate and Satisfac – to ensure the credit union brand is aligned with the iconic South Australian event. Balancing her time between corporates and creatives, Jodie acts as the bridge between all parties involved including the State Government body, Events South Australia, the credit union executives, the Pageant Princesses, media partners - Sunday Mail, Channel Nine and Mix 102.3 FM, as well as LA Advertising.
“Working for the Credit Union Christmas Pageant is every child’s dream. The creativity, energy and vibrancy of the people involved in the Pageant – especially at the workshop – are all inspiring and a whole lot of fun,” says Jodie who, coincidentally, was born on a Christmas Day.
“It’s not just the ‘workshop elves’ who are dedicated to the Pageant, it’s also the six credit unions who provide financial support and their people to play characters or assist behind the-scenes, who help breathe life into the Pageant, making it the largest event of its kind in the world,” she says.
Indeed, in 1933 the Pageant was a gift to the people of South Australia from Sir Edward Hayward, owner of the House of John Martin. Intended as a Christmas Pageant to escort Father Christmas to his Magic Cave the concept has been copied in some of the world’s highest profile cities including New York, Chicago and Toronto.
In her ground-breaking book The Legendary Magic Cave and Christmas Pageant, Adelaide author Lee Lennan has explored the mythology and folklore o...
