By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) approved the placement of a memorial plaque on the bench seat at Maryland Street and Railway Street, Stanthorpe, at the last Ordinary Council Meeting.
The plaque will be located in the Stanthorpe Newsagency.
It has been stated that Doug Mackenzie was involved in a number of local community groups, particularly within sports clubs, and was well known by the Stanthorpe community.
Doug was involved in the start-up of the Apple and Grape Festival in 1966 and was continually active with this event over the years.
The location of this memorial has been selected as the bench seat out the front of the Stanthorpe Newsagency on the corner of Maryland Street and Railway Street, due to locals often seeing Mr. Mackenzie there where he would encourage a conversation.
The engraving on the plaque mentions “In memory of Doug Mackenzie. Sit down and have a chat” in commemoration of these past times.
Councillor Andrew Gale commented in the meeting that he had spoken to Doug Mackenzie’s daughter in early August 2021 after she made some enquiries on a Facebook page.
“As a consequence, we spoke about this and she’s gone through the process and I’m pleased to see that we have a result where her father, Doug, and I personally don’t know Doug, however, I do know Katherine now after this has got a resolve and hopefully…the plaque will serve to remember Mr Mackenzie when people sit there and have a chat.”
“I just thought that it’s one of those little stories where Facebook actually has a good outcome other than a bad outcome so I just thought it was worth remembering and worth remembering Doug I’ll certainly look for the plaque every time I go past there.”
Councillor Ross Bartley stated that he had worked with Doug, who worked for Telecom for 35 years.
“His pride and joy was getting every ten years a badge, and he got the 35 year one and said ‘god I’m so happy’ and it was his pride and joy he wore it on his hat and he was really an ambassador for Stanthorpe,” Councillor Bartley said.
“He just loved Stanthorpe.
“The first thing you thought of when you headed to Stanthorpe was whether Doug Mackenzie would catch up with you.
“He loved driving the bus and giving anyone the guiding tour…he knew every back road in the area but he was a really nice person.”
He stated that Doug was much loved and this plaque was well deserved, as most in Stanthorpe would agree.
