September 15, 2021
The sudden death of well-known Cherbourg Elder Bevan Costello on Wednesday morning has sent shockwaves through the South Burnett community.
Mr Costello, who was the ground announcer at Saturday’s South Burnett Rugby League Grand Final, was well-known for his role with popular local band Muddy Flats and his work as an educator and on legal issues.
He was chair of the Barambah Local Justice Group, a member of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council and sat as a JP Magistrate on the local Murri Court.
The proud Wakka Wakka man also spent more than 30 years’ with Education Queensland, including serving as Deputy Principal of Cherbourg State School and Principal of the Barambah campus of Arethusa College.
He served two terms as a councillor on Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, was a founding member of The Ration Shed Museum and helped establish the Muran Djan Centre for Cherbourg men.
He was also chairman of Budburra Books.
Mr Costello’s involvement with rugby league went back to his youth and extended to rep level.
His concern for the health and welfare of the Cherbourg community also ran deep.
Mr Costello was involved in the promotion of the recent vaccination clinics at Cherbourg, fronting the media on several occasions.
South Burnett Regional Council held a minute’s silence for Mr Costello at the opening of their meeting on Wednesday morning.
Mr Costello, 65, is believed to have suffered a heart attack.
southburnett.com.au extends our deepest sympathies to Mr Costello’s family, friends and colleagues.
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