By Jeremy Sollars
The Southern Downs Regional Council has announced its 2018 Australia Day Citizen Award recipients for Warwick and Stanthorpe.
Warwick’s beloved ‘Rubbish Rambler’, Leonard Monaghan is the winner of the ‘northern region’ Citizen Award, while Stanthorpe community stalwart, businessman and former councillor John Boucher is the ‘southern region’ Citizen Award winner.
The overall ‘Southern Downs Citizen of the Year’ will be announced during Australia Day celebrations tomorrow, Friday 26 January.
The Free Times featured Leonard Monaghan on our front page back in October last year, highlighting his volunteer efforts to clean up the verges of our local highways and other local roads.
A council media release said our ‘Rubbish Rambler’ is “well known among locals for pushing his modified trolley around Warwick, rain, hail or shine, often as far as the Eight Mile or Leslie Dam”.
“Mr Monaghan has collected more than 45 tonnes of rubbish since he began in 2008, making a significant, positive environmental impact on Warwick and its surrounds,” the media release said.
“Mr Monaghan suffers ill health but still works tirelessly, giving of his own time six days a week to ensure the cleanliness and beautification of Warwick for locals, tourists and visitors.”
Of John Boucher, the council statement described him as “a born and bred local, and an active member of the community for his entire life”.
“For over 50 years, John has been involved in the Stanthorpe Agricultural Society, beginning at the age of ten working with his parents before going on to be one of the volunteer stalwarts of the Show Society.
“John has been a member of either the General Committee for the Executive Committee of the Stanthorpe Agricultural Society continuously since the late 1960’s, and works tirelessly with the Showgirl entrants to raise valuable funds for the successful operation and upkeep of the Agricultural Society and Stanthorpe Showgrounds.
“John is also a member and volunteer of the local St Paul’s Anglican Church in Stanthorpe, and has been a Parish Councillor for 35 years.
“He was appointed as Rector’s Warden due to his dedication to the people of the church and the community well beyond the usual mandatory retirement date, and has been involved in raising funds for Chaplaincy.
“John has been an active member of the Stanthorpe and Granite Belt Chamber of Commerce since 2000, and is currently a Vice-President.
“In 2016, the Chamber conferred Honorary Life Membership “in recognition of his outstanding service to the Stanthorpe and Granite Belt Chamber of Commerce and to our community”.
“At the time, it was the only Life Membership of the Chamber conferred on any person.
“John was the Inaugural President of the Stanthorpe and District Men’s Shed, and remained an active Vice-President until recently. During his Presidency, he oversaw the establishment of the Shed premises, secured financial and in-kind support from the community and has since worked for the Shed and its members tirelessly.
“John has also contributed as a volunteer firefighter for over 40 years, holding positions of leadership including Group Chairman and Fire Warden. In 2017 he was awarded the Qld Fire and Emergency Services Medal for his services.”
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
