The Granite Belt is mourning the passing of local identity John Boucher, who has died after a battle with illness.
The business, council and community figure passed away early yesterday morning, Sunday 18 February, just weeks after being honoured as the Granite Belt’s Australia Day Citizen Award winner.
John Boucher’s Australia Day citation noted that he was involved with the Stanthorpe Agricultural Society, beginning at the age of 10 working with his parents before going on to be one of the volunteer stalwarts of the Show Society.
He was a member the General Committee and the Executive Committee of the Society continuously since the late 1960s, and worked tirelessly with the Showgirl entrants to raise valuable funds for the successful operation and upkeep of the Agricultural Society and Stanthorpe Showgrounds.
He was also a member of and volunteer with St Paul’s Anglican Church in Stanthorpe, and was 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 was an active member of the Stanthorpe and Granite Belt Chamber of Commerce since 2000, most recently its 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.
He also contributed as a volunteer firefighter for more than 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.
Other significant achievements include…
• Awarded a Paul Harris Fellow by Stanthorpe Rotary in 2016 in recognition of this contribution to the community
• Founding member of the Stanthorpe Sporting Car Club
• Served as a Councillor on the Stanthorpe Shire Council for three terms
• A volunteer organiser of Light the Night Leukaemia Foundation fundraiser in Stanthorpe
• Member and supporter of Landcare
