HEAR ye, hear ye – Southern Downs Town Crier Bob Townshend has been named the inaugural Southern Downs Citizen of the Year.
Some of the great contributors to the Southern Downs region were recognised with honours for their outstanding service to the community at Australia Day Celebrations at Glengallan Homestead and Stanthorpe’s Weeroona Park today, Friday 26 January.
In previous years there’s been a ‘northern’ (Warwick) and ‘southern’ (Stanthorpe) citizen of the year but in 2018 as well as handing ‘northern’ and ‘southern’ citizen awards, the council decided to institute a new overall Citizen of the Year award.
A Southern Downs Regional Council spokeswoman said Bob was appointed Southern Downs Town Crier in 2011 and has “volunteered his time and booming voice to welcoming people to various events across the region”.
“During his short time as a town crier, Mr Townshend has attended five Australian Championships and was the only Queensland Crier at the World Championships in 2015, and has presented a greeting from the Mayor of the Southern Downs to the Mayor of Warwick in England,” the spokeswoman said.
“He proudly represented the Southern Downs when he defended his title as Senior Champion at the 2017 Australian Town Crier Championships and finished third in the Champion of Champions.
“Mr Townshend was lauded at the Glengallan Homestead and Weeroona Park Australia Day Celebrations as he volunteered his talents at both events.”
Southern Downs Mayor Tracy Dobie extended her congratulations to all Australia Day Award recipients.
“Congratulations to Mr Townshend, the Southern Downs Citizen of the Year and to all the recipients of the 2018 Australia Day Awards,” Cr Dobie said.
“These individuals exemplify why we should all be proud to be Southern Downs citizens and this is an opportunity to recognise them and to say thank you for their service to the community.
“These awards recognise the contribution these accomplished individuals and groups have made to enrich our communities.
“Their service is an inspiration to all of us and captures the very essence of the Australian spirit.”
Warwick’s ‘Rubbish Rambler’ Leonard Monaghan received the 2018 ‘northern’ Citizen Award, while Stanthorpe community and business identity John Boucher received the ‘southern’ Citizen Award.
The council’s other Australia Day Awards winners…
Northern Region –
• Junior Citizen Award: Eve Kelly
• Cultural Award: John Telfer
• Junior Cultural Award: The Dance Centre
• Sport Award: Carly Cooper
• Junior Sport Award: Caitlin Skaines
• Sport Admin Award: Michael Bourke
• Community Event of the Year: Southern Downs Steam Railway
Southern Region –
• Junior Citizen Award: Liana Allen
• Cultural Award: Leonie Welch
• Junior Cultural Award: Hubert Creevy / Lachlan Smith
• Sport Award: Brass Monkey
• Junior Sport Award: Aliesha Rogers
• Sport Admin: Colin Britton
