2011 SA Rose Susan Gellard with the 2012 entrants (from left) Katrina Hobson, Sarah Doherty, Katie Byrne and Alyce O'Brien.
2012 South Australian Rose Sarah Doherty with fiance David Stocker.
2011 SA Rose Susan Gellard with the 2011 Queensland Rose & 2011 International Rose of Tralee Tara Talbot.
The 2011 SA Rose Susan Gellard crowns the new 2012 Rose Sarah Doherty.
2012 Rose Entrants at a St Patrick's Day event.
2012 SA Rose entrants at the Grand Selection Ball with host, Tim Noonan.
2012 SA Rose entrants at the Grand Selection Ball with Irish ambassador Noel White.
Do you have what it takes to be a South Australian Rose of Tralee?
Adelaide's Susan Gellard, the 2011 Rose, did.
And with the 2013 search about to get under way, Miss Gellard, now 28, wants to share her 'life-changing experience' to encourage women from regional SA to enter.
"It's a good chance for women in regional areas to celebrate their Irish heritage and to take that overseas," said Miss Gellard..
"Entrants fund raise and get their community on board. It's such a confidence booster."
Importantly, the Rose of Tralee isn't a beauty contest.
Entry is open to young women aged 18 to 27 who are unmarried and of Irish heritage. The new South Australian Rose gets to head straight to the international Rose of Tralee final, winning an all-expenses paid trip to Ireland plus spending money.
For Miss Gellard, her experience was about stepping out of her comfort zone.
"I was so shy but I forced myself to take a risk. I felt like I was part of something special," she said.
"A Rose is a modern, independent woman. It's not about her beauty but the truth in her eyes. She is easy going, strong and importantly, a role model for other young women."
An information session will be held on Thursday, November 1 at the Irish Club in Adelaide with a Skype connection available for women in regional areas.
Applications close on November 30.
"We really want to bring the Irish community living all over South Australia closer together and this quest is a great way of doing that ... it's also a great community event, whether you're Irish or not," said Miss Gellard.
To find out more, contact Susan Gellard at the SA Rose Facebook page.
