When The Fiji Times profiled Miss Hibiscus titleholder Lois Gibson in August 1966, it described her as an even-tempered beauty whose interests leaned more toward ballroom dancing than modern styles, and one who found relaxation in quiet pursuits such as gardening and reading.
She was described by her flat mate Maureen McKenzie as “never moody and always easy to get along with”.
The 24-year-old comptometer operator was known for presenting a serene face to the world, a fact that was possibly doubted by the thousands who heard her trembling voice on radio after the announcement of her selection as queen.
After the eventful hours of being announced as queen, she said: “I kept going as though in a daze. It was hours before the impact of the announcement began to dawn on me and even then, I couldn’t believe it was true. I can’t really believe it yet.”
Friends laughingly relayed that in the early hours of the morning after she was proclaimed Hibiscus Queen, she kept saying repeatedly, in a dazed voice, as though to convince herself, “That trip is mine, all mine, and would you believe it, all those prizes are mine, all mine.”
The evening came to an end for her around 4am. After the gala festival ball, all the contestants and their escorts went on to the Royal Suva Yacht Club for further celebrations.
Worn out with excitement, she slept until early Sunday afternoon, waking up only to accept calls from delighted well-wishers.
Among them were her flat mates, Maureen, with whom she had lived with since February, and Karen Hedstrom who had recently joined the two friends.
The trio shared the household chores as Lois and Maureen did before Karen joined them.
They each tackled the job closest at hand following no set rule about “whose turn is it to do what”.
According to Maureen and Karen, Lois was a good cook.
Lois and Maureen were serious readers, and while parties beckoned them out constantly, often, they settled for a quiet evening in their home.
Each had their own interests and friends, and while the three enjoyed entertaining, they never had a party in their own flat.
Naturally elated about the wealth of prizes showered on her as queen, Lois planned her overseas holiday before the year had come to an end.
“I have everything I wanted,” she said happily referring to the prizes donated by business firms.
“Most of these things I’ve wanted badly for a long time, and I can’t believe they are now mine. I’m thrilled with everything but particularly so with the radiogram. Maureen and I once borrowed a small pick-up for a time and even since then have wanted a record player very much.
“I know I keep saying it, but I can’t believe it’s true.”
