St Anthony Festival: Hinchinbrook remembers 1927 flood vow

Hinchinbrook is marking the anniversary of what could be Queensland’s longest-running festival borne out of a miracle during a flood of biblical proportions.

Members of the Hinchinbrook community are marking the anniversary of what could be Queensland’s longest-running festival borne out of a miracle during a deadly flood of biblical proportions.

The tiny hamlet of Bemerside on the Bruce Highway north of Ingham is hosting the annual Festival of Saint Anthony, first held in June, 1927.

Organisers said the boutique religious festival would be held at the St Anthony’s Chapel on Sunday, June 9, 97 years since more than 40 people died in widespread flooding in North Queensland in February, 1927.

The death toll included 13 souls of Italian origin who tragically perished in Bemerside after the swollen Herbert River catastrophically breached its banks.

Festival of St Anthony Organising Committee Acting President Anthony Girgenti outside the church that bears the name of the Catholic saint who locals believed intervened to save lives during the deadly 1927 floods that ravaged the Hinchinbrook district and North Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

Organising Committee Acting President Anthony Girgenti, named after the Catholic saint, said that as water levels climbed in the aftermath of a tropical cyclone, it lifted the Bemerside general store off its foundations, imperilling the lives of the store owner and a number of families seeking refuge.

An historic photo of St Anthony’s statue being paraded through the Hinchinbrook hamlet of Bemerside north of Ingham. The parade attracted 2000 devotees in the 60s but is now more sparsely attended. Picture: Supplied

An historic photo of St Anthony’s statue being paraded through the Hinchinbrook hamlet of Bemerside north of Ingham. Mr Girgenti said locals were determined to see the festival survive. Picture: Supplied

Mr Girgenti said that when the store and its owner floated past the old St Bartholemew’s Church he vowed to St Anthony: “If you save us from this peril, I will build you a little chapel in the church where a statue of St Anthony will be placed.”

He said the owner miraculously survived and honoured his vow.

The second and larger statue of St Anthony on display at the St Anthony’s Chapel in Bemerside, Hinchinbrook, North Queensland. The saint, also known as Anthony of Padua, was said to have a natural affinity with children. Picture: Cameron Bates

The statue used in the annual procession of the Festival of St Anthony, which is marking 97 years in June. The saint, Anthony of Padua, was a gifted orator known for his preaching abilities. Picture: Supplied

Mr Girgenti, one of three Anthony’s on the nine-person committee, said the festival would be marked by a Mass, a “soiree of different foods”, prize giveaways, the sale of mementoes of St Anthony and other religious icons, a jumping castle for children and a procession of St Anthony through Bemerside.

“The parish of St Anthony welcomes people of all faiths to attend this festival to mark community, goodwill and continuing commitment to peace and unity.”

Festival of St Anthony Organising Committee Acting President Anthony Girgenti inside the church that bears the name of the Catholic saint who locals believed intervened to save lives during the deadly 1927 floods that ravaged the Hinchinbrook district and North Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

The festival can stake a serious claim to being Queensland’s longest running.

Ingham’s more famous Australian-Italian Festival only kicked off in 1995 while Queensland’s largest multicultural event, the Paniyiri Greek Festival in Brisbane, is yet hit to hit 50 years.

The Burdekin Water Festival, marketed as “one of the longest-running festivals in Queensland”, only marked its 60th anniversary in 2018.

Originally published as St Anthony Festival: Hinchinbrook remembers 1927 flood vow