The Pageant was first held in 1933 - sponsored by John Martins Department store.
By 1995 David Jones had bought the John Martins store and that sold the Pageant to the State Government of South Australia.
The State Government sought business support for the Pageant to secure its future and in 1996 six South Australian credit unions provided that support - and secured naming rights of the event.
Major sponsorship support for 25 years was pledged by these credit unions:
- Savings & Loans
- Australian Central
- Community CPS Australia
- Police
- Powerstate
- Satisfac
The first Credit Union Christmas pageant was in 1996.
http://www.cupageant.com.au/
On 1 October 2007 the South Australian Government's Tourism Minister, Jane Lomax-Smith, challenged the Australian Prime Minister John Howard to pledge A$1 million to the Credit Union Pageant.
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South Australian Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith
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This was after the Prime Minister pledged A$1 million to the Sydney Christmas Parade Trust. In announcing support, the Prime Minister said that the Sydney pageant was well deserving of the A$1 million funding.
"The Sydney parade aims to promote unity and goodwill among the people of Sydney and strengthen the sense of community by encouraging people to join together to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season, " he said.
Dr Lomax-Smith commented: "We would hope that John Howard doesn't think that community investment stops at the Blue Mountains."
