Six young women have entered the quest. They are:

Emma Kirk, 20, of Lovedale

Jacqueline Passfield, 18, of Bellbird

Phoebe King, 19, of Bellbird

Latasha Kembrey, 17, of Cessnock

Charmaine Clayton, 18, of Abermain

Amber-Jane Parker, 19, of Bellbird

The entrants are in the running for a wonderful list of prizes thanks to the generosity of a long list of sponsors who help make the event happen each year.

Included in the major prize for the winner is a two night stay at the stunning Harrington Waters Lodge, part of the Roche group that has Harrigan’s Irish Pub at Pokolbin.

Harrington Waters Lodge joined the quest as a major sponsor last year.

Hunter Family Jewellers is again providing a beautiful watch and has been a major sponsor since the very first quest in 1991.

Fuse Gallery Hair Skin Body is with the quest again and is also making generous contributions to the prize portfolio.

Guest House Mulla Villa, another longtime supporter of the quest is providing a night’s accommodation for the second placegetter, along with dinner and breakfast.

Judges met the entrants on Tuesday evening to begin the task of finding the winner, while judging will continue on the gala presentation evening tomorrow at Cessnock Ex-Services Club.

The auditorium will look magnificent, thanks to the decorative efforts by Dreamtime Weddings, who will be assisting for the third year.

The Advertiser’s Managing editor, Bruce Wilson, said six young women have entered the quest and as always, finding a winner will be difficult.

This will be 19th staging of the quest which was re-born in 1991. The gala evening has been held at its home, Cessnock Ex-Services Club since 1992. Master of ceremonies, Warren Parsons, will again be looking after proceedings on stage.

The reigning Miss Cessnock City, Claire Chapman, said that while sad to see her time come to an end, she is looking forward to the presentation evening, and encouraged young women to thank seriously about becoming involved in the future.