July 20, 2023
Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio will be relinquishing his role on Friday but has promised to remain a fierce – if far less visible – promoter of his beloved region.
Mayor Antonio is retiring after almost 42 years in local government.
“I’ll continue to praise the opportunities and the unparalleled lifestyle benefits we are fortunate to enjoy in this productive and beautiful area of southern Queensland,” he said.
“I realised this long before being elected and I’m more deeply convinced that this is the case now.
“I will happily return to a hands-on role in our family beef and cropping operation and enjoy the chance to travel in the future.
“I’ve regarded the Mayoralty and my time as an elected representative as a rare honour to help improve community life by delivering services and facilities that people use daily.
“I have been privileged to represent my home district (Millmerran), and subsequently the Toowoomba Region, across an extraordinary era of development and change.
“I could not have foreseen how local government would evolve and the breadth of projects and services that local authorities deliver for residents, businesses and visitors.
“It has come a long way from the part-time duties required in my early days on the Millmerran Shire, to a seven-days-a-week vocation in one of the most vibrant regions in Australia.”
When he graduated with a Diploma in Agriculture from the Queensland Agricultural College at Gatton, a life on the family farm seemed inevitable for the future councillor.
But the lure of the land was matched early on by an equally strong desire to play an active role in Millmerran’s community life via sporting, church and other local groups.
“For better or worse, I set off on a life of community service, never contemplating that it could lead to a far larger role beyond my Millmerran home,” Mayor Antonio said.
“Following eight years as Mayor of Millmerran (after starting as a Councillor and then Deputy Mayor), I was elected to the first Toowoomba Regional Council following the Queensland Government’s amalgamation of eight local authorities in 2008.
“I was appointed Deputy Mayor in my first term and at the next election was successful in the Mayoral poll, a position I have held until now.
“My entire local government career has been based on a desire to serve the community and set the foundation for our region’s future. That enduring motivation has guided me and served me well across the decades.
“Apart from my parents and immediate family, I gained valuable early insights from my formative Millmerran mentors, former Shire chairmen Viv Saal and George Ezzy.
“I’ve also enjoyed productive working relationships with former Millmerran Shire CEO Roy Flynn and current Toowoomba Regional Council CEO Brian Pidgeon, which has assisted me greatly.
“My first thought is to acknowledge and thank literally hundreds of people who have helped me from my earliest days as a young rural Councillor to my most recent years on Toowoomba Regional Council. My family has been a reliable source of encouragement and the perfect distraction during rare breaks.
“As Mayor, I have regarded one of my most important roles as being the chief advocate for promoting our region’s greatest attributes to new residents, investors, business leaders and the higher levels of government.
“In my time I have worked with and seen the bravery and professionalism of our emergency services workers, hundreds of volunteers, business owners of big and small enterprises, school students and their teachers, refugees and migrants adjusting to new lives and dealt with senior religious figures, visiting international Mayors, Premiers and Prime Ministers.
“This work has taken me to all points in our region, across Queensland, to Parliament House in Canberra and on visits to our sister cities in New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and Japan, plus other delegations to Paris (a UNESCO Peace conference) and Council of Mayors South East Queensland trips to Canada and the United States.
“Across my life, Toowoomba and the Darling Downs have seen many technological, social and economic advances.
“Toowoomba has grown to become a major regional centre for health, education and commercial services that supports a vast area of southern and South West Queensland, plus northern NSW.
“By way of comparison, I contrast my early pony rides to school with being on the first international passenger flight from the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport to Shanghai, China in 2016.
“Our family felt a new degree of connectedness with a landline phone to the farm in my childhood. In recent times, I have participated in Zoom calls between our region’s school students and their counterparts in our Japanese sister city of Takatsuki.
“There have been major advances to our region’s transport infrastructure with the Toowoomba Bypass and the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport offering greater access for residents and visitors.
“Our leading agricultural produce and other goods can reach most parts of Australia in 24 hours or so and the airport offers a 12-hour flight to major Asian markets, with connecting flights to other continents.”
Mayor Antonio said he was proud of his role as a White Ribbon Ambassador and the Toowoomba campaign calling for the elimination of violence against women and children.
“Another proud moment was signing the declaration officially listing Toowoomba as Queensland’s third Refugee Welcome Zone in 2013. Last month we hosted a 10-year anniversary service to honour the community groups and individuals who worked hard to achieve this goal,” he said.
“Today we are home to residents who hail from many parts of Africa, especially North and South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the latest arrivals from Afghanistan and Middle Eastern countries, such as Iran, Iraq, Syria and our Kurdish community.
“This event further highlighted why we should always count our blessings for our good fortune to live in this part of Queensland and Australia.
“I’m most positive that the groundwork laid by successive councils has positioned the region to seize opportunities for future success.
“I am most grateful to my many Council colleagues over the years, Council staff and community members who have supported me in any capacity. I value and appreciate your friendship and assistance.”
Local Government Association of Queensland president Mark Jamieson praised Mayor Antonio’s commitment.
“Paul Antonio is a legend of the local government … from his first day in council to his last, Mayor Antonio has never flagged in his determination to help secure improvements for his community,” Cr Jamieson said.
“His colleagues in the local government community all wish him well in this next chapter.”
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