On September 6, 1976, The Fiji Times published a story on the annual Hibiscus Festival and how a young lady had her doubts about winning the Miss Hibiscus crown.
The article also mentioned her boyfriend, Charles St Julian, and how confident he was in her ability to scoop the main prize.
“He said I would but I thought I could not possibly win,” a happy, smiling Josephine Sau said after being crowned by Governor-General Ratu Sir George Cakobau at Albert Park.
After Ratu Sir George placed the Miss Hibiscus sash over her shoulder, Miss Sau told the crowd, “It is indeed a great thrill to wear the Hibiscus crown for 1976.”
She said her main job as Miss Hibiscus would be to do her best to represent Fiji and to try to persuade more tourists to visit the country.
Miss Sau, 23, was sponsored in the contest as Miss Avon.
She worked for a travel agency and listed her hobbies as travelling, meeting people and playing netball and hockey.
First runner-up in the contest was Miss Carpenters Group Maria John, 18, and second runner-up was Miss Stinson Pearce Group Michelle Prescott, 19.
Miss Burns Philip Vikatore Managreve, 18, won the Charity Queen title after raising more than $4000 for the Hibiscus Festival charity chest.
The 15 Miss Hibiscus entrants raised a total of $21,047.
The Mayor of Suva, Len Usher, presented Miss Managreve with her crown and title sash at a ceremony at the Albert Park, Suva, on a Saturday afternoon after a parade of floats. About 30 floats, six teams of marching girls and three bands braved mud and rain to take part in the parade.
The Fiji Times and Herald took first prize with a desert island float complete with a real coconut tree.
The Carpenters Group won first prize in the commercial section with a giant pearl shell.
The Scout Association came first in the voluntary organisations section with a scout camp.
A special prize went to the Soul of Nigger Charley team who entertained the crowd with antics in the mud. Biddy’s Steak House, the Red Cross Society of Suva and Bank of New South Wales sports and social club won second prizes.
