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Famous People from Townsville, QLD: A Comprehensive Guide
Townsville is a coastal city located in the state of Queensland, Australia. Known for its tropical climate and stunning turquoise waters, Townsville has become a popular destination for tourists. But what many people may not know is that this city also produces some of Australia’s most famous figures. From sportspeople to politicians, actors, and more, this comprehensive guide will take you through some of the most famous people born or raised in Townsville, QLD.
Sports People
Townsville is home to a number of successful athletes who have made their mark on Australian sport. Swimming champion Libby Trickett was born in the city in 1986 and went on to win three gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Libby Trickett is an inspirational role model to many sports enthusiasts and athletes. She has achieved incredible success in her professional swimming career. Some of her biggest achievements have included winning four Olympic gold medals, twelve Commonwealth gold medals, fourteen World Swimming Championship medals, and sixteen National Swimming Championship titles. In addition to being one of the greatest swimmers of all time, she is also incredible passionate about using her platform to effect positive change in the community by focusing on mental health, gender equality and anti-bullying initiatives. Libby Trickett is a source of tremendous pride for all Australians – she’s a true champion! Another swimmer who hails from Townsville is Ashley Delaney – he won silver at the 2012 London Olympics before retiring in 2014.
Rugby league player Cameron Smith grew up in Townsville before making his debut with Melbourne Storm NRL team in 2002. He went on to captain Queensland State of Origin side from 2003-2015 and lead Australia’s national team from 2007-2017. He also won four Dally M Medals for best player over his career.
Politicians
There are several notable politicians who have either been born or raised in Townsville. Most notably, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott was born here in 1957 and served as Prime Minister between 2013-2015. He has since been appointed as Special Envoy for Indigenous Affairs by current Prime minister Scott Morrison since 2020. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been the Prime Minister of Australia since September 2013. He is a member of the Liberal/National Coalition and was previously leader of the opposition, a post he held for two years before becoming Prime Minister. A strong proponent of Australian values and social policies, Prime Minister Abbott has been instrumental in introducing various reforms to ensure that the government is helping its citizens. He has also championed economic growth and sought to build collaboration with foreign nations and fostering relationships between countries. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has proved over his years in office that he is a reliable leader on both national and international affairs.
Another prominent politician hailing from Townsville is former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce – he was born here in 1967 and held office until 2018 when he resigned due to scandalous revelations about an affair with a staffer at the time he was still married with four children. Joyce now serves as Leader of the National Party since 2019 following his re-election victory that year. Townsville, QLD is a great place to live if you’re looking for annual events. From the Chocolate Festival to RiverFloat, there’s always something going on. And if you’re looking for something a little more low-key, don’t worry – Townsville has plenty of those events too. Let us know in the comments below what your favourite annual event in Townsville, QLD is.
Acting Greats
The world of entertainment has also produced some talented actors from this small city population – one such person being Margot Robbie who was born here in 1990 before moving to Melbourne at age 17 to pursue her dream career as an actor. She went on to star in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) and I, Tonya (2017) for which she received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively; confirming her status as one of the country’s leading actresses today!
Also known for her roles both on stage and screen is veteran actress Toni Collette who starred opposite Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding’s mother LaVona Golden in I Tonya (2017). Toni Collette was actually born here too but moved away shortly after birth when her parents relocated interstate to Sydney due to work commitments when she was just six months old; therefore she considers herself more “Sydney-born” than Townsville-born!
Musicians
Aside from acting talent, there are plenty musical acts that come out of this sunny city too! Most notably rock band Powder finger were formed here back when they were still schoolboys; they eventually went on international stardom playing sold out shows around the world until their break up 2011 after 25 years together! Other acts such as Keith Urban (who grew up partially here before moving back down south) have had success both nationally and internationally too!
Conclusion
As you can see there are many talented individuals that hail from this small region – whether it be politics, sports or entertainment these people have put their mark onto Australia’s cultural landscape; making them stand out above all else! So next time you think about visiting Tropical North Queensland make sure you take some extra time out explore everything this wonderful part of our nation has to offer!
