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July 9, 2021 - 1:00PM

Lawrence Springborg is this week’s cover story. Picture: Mark Cranitch

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Many readers would be familiar with seeing former opposition leader Lawrence Springborg in a suit from his days in state parliament.

He still wears one in his job as Mayor of Goondiwindi but as writer Frances Whiting and photographer Mark Cranitch discovered when they travelled to his farm outside Yelarbon, he’s equally comfortable out in his fields riding a tractor in his blue workwear and boots.

The role of mayor has been a homecoming for Springborg, who is relishing representing the community he knows and loves.

The man who was dumped from the LNP executive in 2017 is also being wooed back to the party and is being tipped to return as LNP president this month.

Lawrence Springborg at his property. Picture: Mark Cranitch

In this in-depth and personal interview, Springborg speaks frankly about the utter tragedy of losing his 27-year-old daughter Megan last year. It’s a grief that no parent can ever recover from, and the father and husband shares how he and his wife have found a way to keep going.

Family and their three other children play a big part, as do the farm, and serving his community and his party.

Also this week Jeremy Pierce meets the outback dinosaur hunters who are turning their incredible fossil discoveries into tourism hotspots.

And Phil Brown previews Opera Queensland’s next big show, The Marriage of Figaro, which promises to be a throughly enjoyable, energetic drama with laughs and incredible music.