Media Statements

‘King’ Wally Lewis, The Great Barrier Reef, World Expo ’88 and the Royal Flying Doctor Service are among the people, places and events that Queenslanders have voted as their Q150 Icons.

Premier Anna Bligh today released the official list of 150 icons, across 10 categories, as voted by Queenslanders.

The Premier was joined by official Icons Wally Lewis, Susie O’Neill, Dick Johnson, Hugh Lunn and representatives from Surf Lifesaving Queensland. Suncorp Stadium provided a fitting backdrop for the announcement – voted an iconic structure and engineering feat.

“In our Q150 year, Queenslanders are celebrating the people, places and stories that have made our State the great place it is today,” Ms Bligh said.

“And the official Q150 Icons illustrate what a diverse and colourful history it is, from Charles Kingsford Smith to Allan Border, from Australia Zoo to the XXXX Brewery, from the Daintree Rainforest to Carnarvon Gorge.

“From the internationally renown Steve Irwin to the controversial Sir Joh Bjelke- Petersen – Queensland means something different, but something special to all of us,” she said.

Proud Queenslander Rupert McCall penned a dedicated poem incorporating all 150 icons.

Ms Bligh said almost 30,000 votes were received to compile the official list, from a short-list of 300.

“The list of Q150 Icons will be added to the official Q150 Archive at the State Library and 15,000 lucky Queenslanders will also have the opportunity to win a commemorative Q150 Icons Post Card Pack.

“Entry forms will be in local papers tomorrow and I urge Queenslanders to get in quickly because stocks are limited.”

Visit www.q150.qld.gov.au for a full list of the top 150 icons.

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Q150 icons by Rupert McCall

Queensland born Queensland bred

Many thoughts flow through my head

The time has come to beat the drum

This colony deserves some cred!

A story told on fields of gold

Where Glasshouse Mountain views unfold

With sun and surf and Gabba turf

And Allan Border blazing bold!

Across the field – our maiden Shield

Matt the Bat – his windmills wield

With wide verandah – Cairns Kuranda

Jacaranda then revealed

A tribe of thongs in Billabongs

With Billy Thorpe and Bee Gees songs

Now Malouf’s book says James can Cook

With Dickie Johnson’s true blue tongs!

The backyard crew in barbeque!

There’s Judith Wright and Oodgeroo

Gold Coast Indy – Dad of Bindie

Crikey it’s Australia Zoo!

Great White Sharks, National Parks

Savage Gardens, Birdsville larks

Perkins’ pool, Wayne Bennett’s rule

With Cathy Freeman – on ya marks!

Ah here we go and hail Sir Joh

And ride the Isa Rodeo!

Where cane toads croak for Woodford folk

Declare an end to polio

Yes vaccination, Frazer’s station

Railway tracks free education

City Halls and Burdekin Falls

And Yungaba for immigration

Islands, bridges, tracks and ridges

Straddie, Fraser, back deck fridges

XXXX brewin – Mickey Doohan

Parliament could hear the didges!

Currumbin’s wild and Southbank’s nice

Lives are saved in Paradise

The Daintree lush with Geoffrey Rush

Whitsundays adds Magnetic spice

Allan Langer, Rocky banger!

Tree of Knowledge, airplane hangar

Powderfinger, Mal Meninga

Feastin’ on a mud crab sanger!

Rocket Rod, he gets the nod

Wally Lewis – demigod!

Knew every blade of Lang Park Stade

And Blue Care fought against the odds

Johnny Flynn – the great Gunsynd!

Was sailing on a Gladstone wind

Old Clem Jones – he bled maroon

Matilda winked and Mabo grinned

Regatta chains for female claims

82 - The Commonwealth Games

Our Qantas Roo got up and flew!

The Longreach Stockman’s Hall Of Fame

The Belle Hotel and Cloudland fell

Will McInnes, Charles Chauvel

With flower clusters, Gympie Musters

Hugh Lunn - Q1 - Paw Paw Gel

And Yatala Pies and Noosa Tris

And gold was Madam Butterfly’s

And Mango Weis and Leslie Thiess

And Kingsford Smith – he ruled the skies!

Now kids alive to do the five

A place where big pineapples thrive

The outback honours Graeme Connors

Lava tubes and lammie drives!

Hey spend a day on Moreton Bay!

SES – ICPA

Tilted trains through fields of cane

Wotif.com.au ay!

Ekka Mecca St John’s spire

Tone Fitzgerald – let’s enquire

Doctors flying, Dingoes trying

Old museum and Riverfire

The Bundy Bear – we’re almost there!

B&S - School of the Air

On Rafter’s racquet – Big Grant Hackett!

Gateway to the Great Court square

Skyrail leaf – the Barrier Reef

Brekky Creek does beer and beef

Expo crowns the Darling Downs

I’m Glad there’s room for Miss Moncrieff!

With floods and spuds and stormy scuds

Dad and Dave was Mister Rudd’s

Stanthorpe grapes, Panyiri crepes

And Urban tunes – there ain’t no duds!

Carnarvon Gorges Bunya grange

Macadamic nuts exchange

Royal Ag signs, Koala Pines

Where none divides except the Range!

No every feather stands together

Thick and thin – through any weather

Cross the Story bridged by glory

Fastened by a friendly tether

Strengthened by a spirit crown

A pride that never lets you down

With that, I say hip hip hooray

Happy birthday Queensland town!