Winton Shire Council has announced its Aussie Heroes program, recognising those who have gone above and beyond for their communities during the Queensland flood crisis.

The council has expanded the community-run event, Winton’s Way Out West Festival, held across the ANZAC Day weekend. Organisers will work with local councils and authorities across Northern Queensland to find, recognise and honour our Aussie heroes with free tickets to the event and a special main stage presentation where the community can come together to say thank you for their efforts over these trying times. The public are also invited to share their stories and nominate their own Aussie Heroes for the program. With their own farmers devastated by the natural disaster, the Winton community are pulling together to provide mateship for their surrounding districts and are offering up the festival as a place of healing for all.

“The last few weeks have been a very trying time for Queensland and there’s so many weeks, months and even years ahead of cleaning up properties and getting people back on their feet,” said Winton Mayor, Gavin Baskett. “The mental scars will take longer to heal and it will be in a few months’ time when the news reports start to fade and people have to get back to their normal lives where our people will need the most support. We want Winton’s Way Out West Fest to be the place where we can come together, share the stories, honour those that have gone above and beyond and offer the community support that’s needed to Queensland’s heroes.”

Nominations have now opened, and the community are asked to submit their unsung Aussie heroes to the Way Out West Festival for selection. Whether it’s tireless work to get feed to cattle, helicopter pilots and truckies, round-the-clock rescues of flooded residents, those helping strangers in the cleanup, or simply random acts of kindness, Winton’s Way Out West Fest will bring together the very best of the Queensland spirit. Winton will also host the Fifth Aviation Regiment of Australia, fresh from their work assisting flood victims, to welcome festival patrons in a special ANZAC Day commemoration. “Fth Aviation Regiment is proud to have supported our local QLD communities throughout the recent natural disaster” said Mayor Baskett.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk congratulated Winton Shire Council for this initiative to help affected north western communities.“When I announced 2019 Year of Outback Tourism back in December, it was to encourage people to visit our Outback communities doing it tough through drought,” she said. “No one could have ever imagined the devastating impact of the floods and the impact on families and their livelihoods. People often ask me how they can help. Back the bush and book your next trip west. Tourism can help carry communities through hardship and I promise you will never regret an Outback holiday. You’ll see some of the most beautiful landscapes and meet fun, colourful characters. Those memories will stay with you forever.”

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