Cr Roz Frohloff, centre, for their contributions to Nanango and its residents
August 21, 2017
When Jacob Goode opened Goode’s Inn on an August day 169 years ago, the town of Nanango was officially born.
This milestone was celebrated last week when the Nanango Tourism and Development Association (NaTDA) handed out the town’s first ever Founders Day awards.
The two awards – for outstanding Senior and Junior citizens – were presented to Margaret Quinlan and Jae Clarke at a morning tea attended by about 30 invited guests inside the former Nanango Railway Station building at Lee Park racecourse.
The idea for the Founders Day awards came from NaTDA member Andrew Beck, who operates Nanango’s Star Motel.
Andrew thought Nanango should follow the tradition of local awards established by the Murgon Business and Development Association, which gives awards to that town’s outstanding citizens every Australia Day.
But he thought it might be better to pick a date for the awards that had local resonance with Nanango’s residents, and fellow members agreed.
The result was Founders Day, which NaTDA plan to mark with awards every August in future.
NaTDA member Barry Green said the group thought there were many good citizens in Nanango who made amazing contributions to the town that were never formally recognised by other award programs running in the region.
“Margaret Quinlan is a great example of this,” Barry said.
“Every year for the past 25 years Margaret has put together Nanango’s annual Daffodil Day lunch to raise money for the Hospital auxiliary and the Queensland Cancer Council.
“She’s also grown literally thousands of daffodils during that time for Nanango Hospital’s auxiliary, and I have no idea how much she’s raised over the past quarter century but I’m sure it’s an enormous amount.
“This award recognises what she’s done, and we’re very proud to give her a public thumbs up for her amazing contributions.”
Barry had similar good words for Jae Clarke.
“This young man is a member of virtually any community and sporting group you could name,” Barry said.
“He helps out at fundraisers and sports days, race days, events at the showgrounds … you name it, and he does an incredible job.
“What is even more amazing is that Jae does this despite the fact he has to cope with a disability.
“He is an outstanding member of our town and a role model for Nanango’s young people, and that also deserves some public recognition.”
The awards were presented by Cr Roz Frohloff, who said she agreed with NaTDA’s choices and congratulated both recipients on their contributions to the town.
Cr Frohloff said volunteers were the backbone of the community, but seldom received the acknowledgement they deserved.
Footnote: This year’s Daffodil Day lunch will be held at the Nanango Cultural Centre in George Street. The $15 per head two course lunch will begin at noon, and will feature lots of raffle prizes; a plant, fruit and vegetable and sweets stall; entertainment from the Blackbutt Singers and a guest speaker. It will also have many of Margaret Quinlan’s home-grown daffodils for sale. Tickets for the lunch can be obtained at the Nanango Visitor Information Centre in Henry Street. Half the proceeds of the day will be donated to the Nanango Hospital Auxiliary, and the rest to the Queensland Cancer Council.
