Toowoomba town crier: $10k boost as Kevin Howarth’s contract extended

The Garden City’s well-known town crier will remain in the role for the next four years, and has received a bump in his remuneration for the role to $10,000.

Kevin Howarth the Town Crier

Toowoomba’s national award-winning town crier Kevin Howarth has scored a massive financial boost, after the council voted to bump up his annual payments by $2000 a year.

Mr Howarth, who won the National Town Crier Championships in Maryborough in 2023 and is known for having one of the loudest voices in the country, has had his contract with the council renewed until 2028 with a new honorarium of $10,000 a year.

This was originally meant to be $8500 as proposed by tourism and events principal Ross Begent in his report, but amendments by councillors Carol Taylor and Tim McMahon boosted this.

Mr Howarth will also receive a one-off payment of $2000 to help cover the costs of representing the region at the International Town Crier Championships as a result of his win last year.

Champion Toowoomba town crier Kevin Howarth is on his way to England for a world town crier title. Picture: Supplied

While the council does sometimes assist with airfares and accommodation, Mr Howarth generally covers his own costs and uses his personal car to get to jobs.

Ms Taylor said the increase was modest given Mr Howarth’s commitment to the role at both council and community events.

“Kevin has done an amazing job and I don’t think the honorarium is enough,” he said.

“It makes an enormous difference when he puts such gravitas to an event. I actually would like to see that amount go to $10,000 – still not a huge amount but everyone in our community loves Kevin.

“He’s a great advertisement for our region and his performances do well online.”

Mr Howarth’s reputation as a positive presence was supported in Mr Begent’s report.

“An extension on the current term is requested as Mr Howarth has demonstrated positive performance and should retain the identity of the Crier for local, regional, state and national exposure,” he wrote.

“The public perception of this role is overwhelmingly positive with ongoing community engagement and recognition.”

Only councillor Melissa Taylor voted against the motion.

Mr Howarth, who has been in the role since 2016, said he enjoyed representing Toowoomba across Australia and the world.

“Thank you to everyone in the Toowoomba region for supporting me – the compliments I get while on the street are wonderful,” he said last year.