30 famous faces: Stanthorpe’s biggest success stories
From musicians and actors to Olympians and entrepreneurs, Stanthorpe has produced dozens of impressive alumni who have made their mark on the national and international stage. SEE THE FULL LIST:
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Many Stanthorpe alumni have gone on to have successful careers in sport, politics, business and the entertainment industry.
The Border Post has compiled a list, in no particular order, of the most famous names who got their start right here on the Granite Belt.
Deborah Hutton
Australian media personality Deborah Hutton has ties to the Granite Belt with the model living in Stanthorpe during her early years.
At 16 years old she left the region to begin what would be a successful career in the modelling industry.
In 1978 she was on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine and was later contracted with Ford Modelling Agency in New York City.
For more than 10 years, Ms Hutton was the editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly.
Graham ‘Skroo’ Turner
Skroo Turner is a name known across Australia for his work as a Flight Centre co-founder, but what many may not know is that the successful businessman was raised near Stanthorpe.
In 1981, he established the Flight Centre travel agency which is today one of Australia’s leading domestic and international travel sales businesses.
James Blundell
Stanthorpe-born country music star James Blundell has made a career out of his love for the Australian outback.
He burst onto the Australian country music scene in the late 1980s and won the Best New Talent Golden Guitar award in 1987.
Greg Ritchie
The former Australian Test cricketer is just one sports legend to have called Stanthorpe home.
Ritchie played for Queensland between 1980 and 1992 and in his second test cricket match scored 106 not out.
He was named as one of the seven greatest Sheffield Shield run scorers in Queensland history in 2000, recognised for amassing over 6000 runs for his state.
John Speranza
Now the head chef at popular Brisbane restaurant Malt Dining, John Speranza credits his success to his start on the Granite Belt.
His parents Joe and Ronda run Speranza’s Fruit and Veg at Applethorpe, with Mr Speranza attributing his work ethic to his life on the farm and in the shop.
Mr Speranza once said he relishes the pleasure of baking fresh apple pies using the famously delicious produce from his hometown of Stanthorpe.
Kim McCosker
Few would know that successful Australian author and cook Kim McCosker grew up in Stanthorpe.
The cooking icon is best known for her popular cookbook series 4 Ingredients, which has gone on to sell more than three million copies and become one of the most recognised and trusted food brands in Australia.
Sid Maher
The current deputy editor of The Australian spent his early childhood living in Stanthorpe, and got his start as a work experience student at the Border Post during its print days.
In an article written by Sid Maher to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Border Post, he stated:
“A great newspaper editor once said a successful newspaper has to be a vital part of the conversation in its community,” he said.
“By that standard, the Stanthorpe Border Post is a successful newspaper.”
Ben Dark
Ben Dark has been on Australian television screens since the late 2000s, with many recognising the Stanthorpe face from popular shows.
Mr Dark was best known for hosting of Getaway until 2010, and in 2012 he featured in Celebrity Apprentice Australia.
Charlotte Caslick
Miss Caslick has strong family ties to Stanthorpe, with her father Don being a well known Stanthorpe sportsperson more than two decades ago.
The 26-year-old has built a successful rugby career, competing in two summer Olympics and winning a gold medal with the Australian Rugby Sevens women’s team.
Most recently she competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and despite a tough quarterfinal loss is already looking towards the Paris 2024 Games.
Tim White
Professor Tim White was a graduate of Stanthorpe State High School and is now the associate vice president of Infrastructure and Programs at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Professor White has had an illustrious career going on to receive a doctorate in mineral chemistry and crystallography from the Australian National University of Canberra.
He has also held several Australian university top positions.
Matthew Manahan
Actor and singer Matthew Manahan’s hometown is Stanthorpe.
Manahan studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and has since gone on to perform in various stage shows including Wicked, Aspects of Love, Cabaret the Musical and Brigadoon.
In 2019 he worked alongside Australian actor Hugh Sheridan in the musical Hair.
Shane Porteous
Another actor who lived in Stanthorpe during his childhood was John Shane Porteous.
Mr Porteous is best known for playing Dr Terence Elliott in the television drama series A Country Practice from 1981 to 1993, and won a Silver Logie for the role in 1992.
Some other notable work includes his screenwriting for popular Australian soap operas Neighbours and Home And Away.
Charles Chauvel
The Australian filmmaker, producer, and screenwriter was born on the Southern Downs and grew up in Stanthorpe.
The film-making pioneer is best known for his work in making the films Forty Thousand Horsemen and Jedda.
Since the 1990s, the Brisbane International Film Festival has dedicated the Chauvel Award which is given to a distinguished contributor to Australian cinema.
He was inducted posthumously into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2013.
Les Sellars
Les Sellars grew up in Stanthorpe, and represented Australia and Queensland in the rugby league in the 1920s and 30s.
He was also named in the Stanthorpe Team of the Century for his rugby league contributions.
John Bathersby
Stanthorpe-born John Bathersby was devoted to the Granite Belt, with an illustrious career as an Archbishop.
He was one of five Catholic Archbishops of Brisbane since 1917 and only the second Queenslander to be appointed to lead the Brisbane church during its 160-year history.
Henry McKechnie
Henry McKechnie grew up in Stanthorpe and was involved in Queensland politics.
He was minister for Local Government and Electricity from 1972 until his retirement from politics in 1974.
Jordan Atkins
The Stanthorpe-born footballer got his start in the NRL in 2008, and has played for the Gold Coast Titans, Parramatta Eels and Cronulla Sharks throughout his career.
He played under-18s football for the Warwick Cowboys and the majority of his senior football with the Wattles in the Toowoomba Rugby League competition.
Jack Drake
Famous bush poet Jack Drake grew up in Stanthorpe, and has made a career out of describing his personal experience living in the harsh conditions of rural Australia.
He also ran a horse back and trail riding business known as Red Gum Ridge Trail Rides, located 18km southeast of Stanthorpe, until 2001.
Michael Hancock
Michael Hancock was born and bred in Stanthorpe, playing under 16s and 18s for the Stanthorpe Gremlins.
The former Australian rugby league footballer went on to have a phenomenal career, which included representing Queensland in State of Origin.
He also played with the Brisbane Broncos in their five premiership victories in 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998 and 2000.
At the time of his retirement from the league, Hancock held the Broncos’ club record for most career appearances.
William Allan
William Allan was a Queensland politician, born in 1840, and lived just north of Stanthorpe during his early years.
He was the member for Darling Downs in 1877 and 1878 and was later appointed for life to the Queensland Legislative Council.
One of Mr Allan’s political ambitions was to create a railway line from Ipswich to Warwick, envisaging Warwick as the major railway hub on the Darling Downs, but the proposal never eventuated.
Billy Moore
Billy Moore is a former rugby league footballer who spent most of his childhood in Stanthorpe, attending Stanthorpe State High School.
He played for Queensland in the 1992 State of Origin and later played for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Moore was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia’s international standing in rugby league in 2000.
Alan Curr
Stanthorpe-born Alan Curr joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1967.
The Wing Commander managed a fleet of more than 20 aircraft across the world and conflict operations in East Timor.
Travis Burns
Texas-born Travis Burns went on to have great success as an Australian rugby league footballer.
He formerly played for St Helens in the Super League and the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.
Peter Hitchener
Born just outside of Stanthorpe, this Australian television presenter began his media career in Brisbane radio.
Mr Hitchener began presenting the weeknight Nine News Melbourne bulletin in 1998.
The Australian journalist celebrated 40 years at the Nine network in 2013, with a gala dinner held in his honour to pay tribute to his work in news.
James Lister
Liberal National Party member James Lister grew up on the Granite Belt and was elected as Member for Southern Downs in 2017.
He also served in the Royal Australian Air Force from 200o to 2017 as a squadron leader.
Lewis Holland
While Holland was not born in Stanthorpe, we’re claiming him as our own, with the 28-year-old putting down roots with his fiancee Charlotte Caslick right here on the Granite Belt.
The couple own a 150ha cattle property just outside of Stanthorpe.
The former Australian Rugby captain competed in both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics for the Australian Rugby Sevens men’s team.
Peter McKechnie
Politics clearly ran in the McKechnie family, with Stanthorpe-born Peter taking after father Henry by making a career in Australian politics.
Over his career he was the Minister for Tourism, National Parks, Sport and the Arts, the Minister for Industry and Technology, the Minister for Family Services and Welfare Housing and the Minister for Transport.
Malcolm Perry
Malcolm Perry was a famous sportsman who excelled in tennis and squash.
The sportstar was born and raised in Stanthorpe with his parents owning an orchard on the Granite Belt.
Lawrence Springborg
Lawrence Springborg has had a groundbreaking career in politics.
He was born and raised in Yelarbon and became the youngest person elected to Queensland Parliament when he won the Carnarvon seat in 1989.
He also became the first leader of the merged Liberal National Party and held the position from 2008 to 2009.
He is currently the Goondiwindi Mayor.
Scott Mitchell
Former Stanthorpe State High School student and sheep farmer Scott Mitchell gained national interest after he went on reality TV show Farmer Wants a Wife in 2015.
At this time he made the top 10 eligible bachelors in the country.
Unfortunately, Mr Mitchell was unlucky in love after being dumped from the series for another contestant.
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