JCU Professor honoured with Australia Day role

The Australia Day Ambassador Program aims to capture the true spirit of Australia Day by sending high achieving Queenslanders to communities across Queensland to support their celebrations.

Professor Leggat, who is based in Townsville, is Professor in Public Health and Tropical Medicine at JCU. He will travel on Friday to Charters Towers and will be hosted by the Charters Towers Regional Council.

“This is the seventh successive year I have been asked to be an Ambassador and I did not hesitate to agree once again,” Professor Leggat said.

“I am looking forward to joining the people of Charters Towers and the Charters Towers region to celebrate our national day and also to thank them for their contribution to JCU, especially through health and veterinary placements and workforce development.”

Professor Leggat will participate in the Charters Towers Regional Council’s annual Australia Day celebrations. He will then deliver an Australia Day Address and assist the Mayor and other officials in presenting regional Australia Day Awards.

Charters Towers is situated 134 km west of Townsville on the Flinders Highway. The discovery of gold 150 years ago made the area famous. While gold mining continues in the area, it remains a regional centre for the mining industry, the beef industry and for education. Charters Towers retains many heritage buildings from the gold rush days from the late 1800s and early 1900s, such as the Stock Exchange Arcade, and hosts the annual Goldfield Ashes cricket tournament.

Professor Leggat said he was initially approached by the Department of Premier and Cabinet in the Queensland Government to participate.

The Australia Day Ambassador Program was established in 1990.

More information about the Australia Day Ambassador Program.

List of Ambassadors here.

Images of Professor Leggat available here.