Southern Downs’ favourites: Every best of winner in 2024
The Rose City is home to local legends and hometown heroes, and residents know how to make their favourites feel appreciated. Here’s your guide to the best in town.
Regional News
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From apprentices and cafes to dogs and even sports coaches, the Southern Downs region as a whole loves their local legends.
In 2024, we’ve been on a few quests to find the best and favourites across our region.
After nomination posts on social media, Warwick Daily News subscribers have been able to vote for their favourite in a poll. For convenience you can add WDN to your mobile homepage here.
Here’s the best of the best in our region, voted by our readers.
CUTEST BABY
Adorable Cody Glasby was crowned our region’s cutest baby, in a contest that is of no surprise with dozens of commenters who made it clear how much they adore him.
Proud mum Amy Jane Mehrgan reckons her little man is simply just always happy and smashing goals at almost six months old.
“He loves his food and he’s just a happy little guy, always smiling and he’s super switched on,” Ms Mehrgan said.
“He catches onto things quickly and his hitting his milestones really quickly as well, he’s wide awake to the world.”
Ms Mehrgan said the one thing she’s learnt becoming a mum is patience, saying it just comes “naturally”.
“I just love seeing him hit all his milestones and anticipating what he’ll do next. It’s really nice to see him progress and watch him grow up,” she said.
“My favourite memory with Cody is watching him surrounded by his family, he loves them all and always has a big smile and he likes watching them talk to him.
“He always just has a big smile and enjoys his family.”
COFFEE
Adored chain Zarraffa’s is our region’s best cup of joe, as voted by the people who rely on it – especially on a Monday morning.
Zarraffa’s Warwick co-franchisee Danielle Smith was humbled the regional store had won the hearts of the community.
Having operated in the Southern Downs for 14 years, Ms Smith said the Warwick store makes around 700 coffees per day, serving more than 4000 customers each week.
“We have a really loyal customer base and have a warm and welcoming family-like service, we’re always making sure we have great service and great product day in, day out,” she said.
Ms Smith revealed the most popular beverage ordered at the Warwick store was none other than the equally sweet caramel fusion and caramelised cappuccino.
“Our region has a bit of a sweet tooth,” she said.
FAVOURITE APPRENTICE
First year electrical apprentice Harry Boal took out first place in our poll with 18 per cent of the votes, making him the Southern Downs’ favourite apprentice.
Prolec Electrical, Heating and Cooling co-owner Dani Watts said the apprentice was an absolute asset to their team.
“He always shows up and gives 110 per cent effort. If you come out for a day on the tools, you won’t see Harry sitting down or scrolling on his phone. He is always finding something to do and is eager to learn,” Mrs Watts said.
“My husband says he’s the best apprentice he’s ever had and can outwork and outskill apprentices further through their training in just his first year.”
Prolec co-owner Matts Watts said Harry was “very hardworking, with a good drive” and was always helping out and doing what he can to be the best he can.
“He’s at the end of his first year (apprenticeship) and I’m keen to keep teaching him new things, there’s plenty of things to learn in the trade,” Mr Watts said.
“He’s definitely the best apprentice we’ve had, he’s always attentive, and never waits to be directed – he’s always thinking for himself.
“Harry is switched on, independent and wants to work hard.”
CUTEST DOG
Murphy the cavoodle is officially the Southern Downs cutest dog for 2024, after winning with more than double the votes of second place.
The cheeky puppy took out the race from the start, quickly amassing votes early on in the poll.
Murphy’s mum Amanda Pierce says Murphy is a cheeky and extremely spoiled 11-month-old cavoodle who has a lot of love.
Murphy joined the family at age five-months, in late 2023, and is good friends with the family’s other cavoodle, Arthur.
“We have a two-year-old cavoodle Arthur, we actually bought Murphy for him as he is super clingy! She’s ended up being even more clingy than him,” Ms Pierce said.
“Our best memory with Murphy would be all of her, but she joined our family right at the time our 13-year-old family dog was ageing fast, and she was a very happy addition to our family knowing we would soon have to say our goodbyes to (our other dog).
“Our three teenagers say that Arthur and Murphy are the favourite kids in our family.”
EDUCATOR
Ben Trigg from Whispering Gully and Miss Jo of Busy Bees Warwick were joint winners for our region’s favourite educators.
Mr Trigg, a self-confessed goofball, never imagined a career in childcare until he began his journey into fatherhood.
“When my daughter was born, I just thought all the things she was doing were super fun and I just started cooking up this idea where I would do this,” he said.
It’s easy to see why children and parents alike are drawn to Mr Trigg’s easy going, nurturing and all around good nature.
“It’s very rewarding there’s lots of warm, gushy feelings all the time it’s just so sweet,” he said.
“There’s so many little people who are so small and so trusting and I just feel so honoured they accept me and their parents trust me to look after them.”
Additionally, Jo Petroccitto said she has always had a way with children, having spent the past 12 years working in early childhood centres and leaving a lasting impact on parents and their young ones.
Busy Bees Warwick educational leader Miss Jo was humble in hearing the news she had taken out part of the crown as the region’s favourite educator.
As a former hairdresser Miss Jo isn’t afraid of hard work, long hours or standing on her feet all day.
“It’s not a job for everyone that’s for sure, but it’s a very rewarding one,” she said.
BAKERY
The fact that two bakeries claimed the title of the best bakery in the region is testament that our region is home to so many fantastic pies, treats and breads.
Foxy’s Bakery and Westside Hotbread jointly won our poll in October to find the best bread baron and pie purveyors.
Making the tree-change from the coastal Wide Bay to the Southern Downs in 2019, seasoned baker Darren Watts and his wife Jo opened their fourth bakery, Westside Hotbread.
Renowned for its wide selection of breads, Mr Watts said the business now supplies a number of its items to local cafes.
Mr Watts said while the hours are long, it’s rewarding seeing satisfied customers leaving with a smile.
While the business might open its doors to eager customers at 6am, Mr Watts has already spent hours baking, having started at 9pm the evening before.
A decade ago a Stanthorpe couple took a leap of faith and opened their first business, Foxy’s Bakery, which has only continued to thrive along with the region’s tourism.
The dual best bakery winner isn’t the only award the bakery claimed in 2024, taking home three trophies at the Heritage Bank Royal Toowoomba Show.
Foxy’s Kris Fox was awarded for his renowned pies including the plain steak pie, cauliflower, leek and camembert pie and spinach and feta pastry.
Co-owner Fiona Fox said the pair have remained fuelled by their passionate customers and great staff.
Mrs Fox said while the majority of their trade comes from locals, they do get a number of tourists stopping by over the weekend.
“We find the traditional items sell the best, our steak, bacon and cheese pie is one of our bestsellers along with our sticky buns, gourmet doughnuts and vanilla slice,” she said.
SPORTS COACH
Williamson, a gun coach with the Cowboys reserve grade side, was nominated a mammoth amount of times, with no surprise the hometown hero took out this years comp with 18 per cent of the vote.
The coach said he was shocked with the nomination, not realising “how much the boys in the team and at the club liked him”.
Williamson first joined the Cowboys in 2017, before making the move to coaching in 2023. He reckons it’s not a bad effort for only his second year coaching.
One of his many nominees on our call-out post said Williamson “puts everything into his players and club and is a great bloke all around in and outside of the game”.
“Management and experimenting with the team is one of my favourite things about coaching, I just want to see the boys doing well and having fun, it’s what footy is all about,” Williamson said.
“Mateship with the club is so important, it’s not all about winning but having fun too. I’m learning every day and I think I’ve slipped in really well. I’ve learnt a lot from Col (Speed), we aim to just get a bit better every week.
“Passion and pride, and the rest covers itself. I put a lot of heart into the boys and we work hard to get the reward.”
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