After Rachael Lang returned from Canberra, successful in the reception of Stanthorpe’s first prize selection as the Top Tourism Town for 2026, she admitted to having packed a "lucky charm".
“Yes, I did take a lucky one,” Ms Lang excitedly told the Town and Country Journal when back on Stanthorpe soil. “I took a bracelet that's engraved with a message from my late grandmother… it says, ‘Take time to smell the roses’.”
Did the President of Granite Belt Wine and Tourism indeed “smell” them following the September 15 event? Of course, yes, telling us, “I went and smelled the roses in the form of lunch with my dad who is in Canberra at the National Arboretum.”
Another truth uncovered was that Ms Lang resided in Canberra as a child, watching Parliament House being built, so in some ways, being there representing Stanthorpe, her “now” home, was a 'full circle' moment.
Ms Lang was sure to not take the limelight however, conscious of the collaborative effort that the award represents, within a category relative to towns with more than 5,000 residents, and on a platform hosted by the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC).
Representing Southern Downs Regional Mayor, Cr Melissa Hamilton (who was on leave), she told The Journal that “Stanthorpe is doing exceptionally well for a small town in a regional location” and the opportunity to rub shoulders with politicians and industry representatives was “pretty wild personally”.
“To be sitting in a room, watching everyone else’s videos, gave a sense of the strength of regional tourism,” she said of what Stanthorpe and other entrants displayed as part of the awards event.
“It was very eye-opening … (and) to even be considered in that space was pretty exciting. To win was very humbling ... (and) a massive boost for local operators.”
Ms Lang had taken time to “write down a few notes,” in preparedness of winning, for which she was grateful. The result was a poised and professional response to the recognition, among such political and industry leaders.
Has she as yet “come down from cloud nine?”
“Not really,” the engaging tourism advocate told us, also relaying that some guests “hadn’t heard of Stanthorpe”. “They asked, ‘Where’s that?’ … (and) I said, ‘Let me tell you a story…”
Ms Lang said she not only offered geographical explanations but also pointed to Stanthorpe’s wine-making climate and elevation, varied experiences for guests, generous hospitality and the promotion of the town as “a whole lot more than a romantic getaway”.
Some of the first people she said she messaged after winning were Krista Hauritz (tourism, events and marketing) who put together the winning 90-second video, Sonja Johnson from SDRC who’d also helped immeasurably, Mayor Hamilton and former President of Granite Belt Wine and Tourism, Chris Nolan.
Mayor Hamilton relayed the following after hearing of the win: "What a fantastic result for our community ... (highlighting) the power of collaboration between council, our dedicated local tourism operators and our community."
The award also belonged to the "exceptional volunteers" at the Stanthorpe Information Centre, beside Quart Pot Creek, Ms Lang said, and the plan was for locals to be able to visually appreciate this golden moment among them there.
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