The Festival of Busselton and Busselton-Dunsborough Mail are hosting a competition to see the ‘spirit’ return to the event in 2019.
In the past, an effigy, known as the spirit, would be built for each festival.
The spirit would be a feature of the float parade before it was set alight just prior to the festival finale fireworks.
Designs are now being sought for the 2019 spirit, and the winner will receive $500 from the Mail to go towards the spirit’s construction.
The tradition was started by the late Vince Triglia.
The proud and passionate Busselton resident had returned to his birthplace in Italy and travelled Europe, where he saw a spirit effigy at a festival and thought it would be a wonderful thing to do for Busselton.
A spirit effigy is a figure used to mark the end of a festival and is based on an centuries old Italian tradition of building a spirit for the festival.
Each year, Mr Triglia, a lifetime member of Busselton Lions Club, spent weeks creating a giant papier-mâché spirit effigy, clothed and loaded with fireworks.
After the festival queen was crowned, he would tow the effigy down Queen Street on a trailer with his family and friends walking behind him.
Mr Triglia’s daughter, Denise Maiolo, has fond memories from these days of the festival.
She said she loved the idea of bringing the spirit back.
“Dad would love it. He just loved doing it and he loved doing things for Busselton,” she said.
“For it to come back and be in the float parade would be lovely.
“It used to attract so many families, there was huge procession, it was awesome – it was really the highlight of the weekend.”
Mr Triglia’s signature was Luigi, a figure with a big nose and big ears.
Luigi’s appearance would always incorporate something to do with Busselton and the region.
Ms Maiolo said she would love to see a community group or school carry on the tradition.
Entries for the Festival of Busselton Spirit Competition close on August 10. The burning of the 2019 spirit is subject to approval.
To enter, email your design with dimensions to bartonjill5@gmail.com.