Goondiwindi is a Winner
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24 March 2018
GOONDIWINDI NAMED QUEENSLANDS BEST REGIONAL TOWN
The nation’s leading national newspaper has crowned Goondiwindi the "Best Country Town" in Queensland.
The article, published today in The Australian, found Goondiwindi outperformed all other Queensland country towns thanks to its ‘surprise package’ of above-average income, demographic diversity, low unemployment, a cohesive community and well-performing public services such as its schools and medical supplies.
The town’s economic diversity was another strong factor in its selection as was the breadth of its profitable local industries.
The data was compiled from the 2016 Census results and analysed by esteemed social commentator Bernard Salt in collaboration with co-director of The Demographics Group Simon Kuestenmacher.
‘Queensland’s best country-town lifestyle should be demographically diverse, it should be growing and prosperous, it should be affordable, it should have all the functional amenity required to raise a family,’ said Mr Salt about the selection process.
Mr Salt also praised Goondiwindi for its ‘proud and independent’ community and its ability to excel in its own orbit, away from the refuge of opportunities only available in bigger cities.
All 1,850 towns in Australia were considered and then filtered in line with selected criteria. The demographers then narrowed down the results to a finalist from each state and territory, with Goondiwindi emerging as the best country town in Queensland. The town was crowned along with such towns as the WA beauty spot Margaret River and top-end tourism hotspot Katherine.
Other finalists included Woodend in Victoria, Margate in Tasmania, Nairne in South Australia and Griffith in New South Wales.
A special feature about Goondiwindi accompanied the results in today’s The Weekend Australian Magazine and a shot of the town was also selected for the magazine’s cover.
‘It is wonderful to have the success of our town recognised on such a national scale,’ said Mayor Graeme Scheu. ‘I am thrilled that factors such as our economic diversity and public services have been acknowledged and that the rest of the country will realise what a vibrant and thriving town Goondiwindi is,’ he said.
“This success is a true recognition to the community of Goondiwindi” Cr Scheu said.
“Things like the Water Park and its estate, Botanic Gardens, Sporting Ovals and PCYC and of course the Macintyre River, which provides so much in recreation and obviously underwrites the local agricultural economy have all contributed.”
“Undoubtedly, the Gunsynd story and the Goondiwindi Grey played a big part in the seventies and the story lives on today. “
But most of all it is each and every resident and the pride taken by them in the town.
For more than 50 years now, people have come from near and far for the Lions Christmas Eve fireworks and this year marks the sixth year of Easter on the Macintyre festival.
What a time for this announcement as 800 skiers converge on the town for the National Ski Championships on the Water Park. They will witness firsthand what this “Goldie Locks” Town of Queensland has to offer.
I am sure everyone in the Goondiwindi region feels very proud of our country town. It really shows that great things are happening in Goondiwindi.’
For further information, please contact:
Councillor Graeme Scheu
Mayor
Goondiwindi Regional Council
Mobile: 0427 718 877
Email: gscheu@grc.qld.gov.au