Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk wants to name the new road to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum Butch Lenton Way in honour of the mayor of Winton who died on October 1.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Premier made her wish known at Cr Lenton’s funeral on Monday where she was represented by Minister for Local Government Mark Furner.
The new road will be named after Cr Graham “Butch” Lenton after approval from Winton Shire Council and his family.
Ms Palaszczuk paid tribute to Lenton saying politics was an honourable, but not always a popular profession but Butch was both honourable and popular.
“He was a man with a friendly smile, a warm handshake and a passion for his community,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
The Premier said she remembered standing with Butch at the Age of Dinosaurs museum lookout talking about his vision for Winton as an iconic tourist town.
“As we gazed out across the landscape, we pondered the past and what this country would have been like when those prehistoric creatures, whose footprints have been found there, roamed,” she said.
“We also canvassed the future - there were other projects and services to discuss and work on together.
“His vision and his hard work was for the town and the people he loved.”
(Butch Lenton's) vision and his hard work was for the town and the people he loved
- Annastacia Palaszczuk
She said Butch left Winton a better place and helped Queensland to be a better state.
“He is gone but he will never be forgotten,” she said.
“To Butch’s family – his wife Ros – we are indebted to you. Time spent working in the community is time not spent at home with family. You shared Butch with a much bigger family – those of us who worked with him and admired him so much.”
Cr Lenton died after a long battle with cancer.
He lived in Winton all his life, was elected to council in 1997, became Mayor in 2016 and re-elected unopposed in 2016.
A large crowd attended his funeral service including Federal Senator Fiona Nash, Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud and state member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter.
Greg Hallam, the CEO of the Local Government Association of Queensland also announced that company Peak Services has created The Butch Lenton Memorial Bush Council Innovation Award.
The award includes an annual $10,000 bursary for a council showing innovation and drive, and will be presented at the LGAQ Annual Conference starting in 2018.
“Butch showed us how things could be done,” Mr Hallam said.
'Butch' Lenton is survived by his wife Ros, their daughter Carly and grandchildren Ethan and Lindsay.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
