30 years a volunteer

Doing its best to absorb the punches of ongoing drought, Winton was dealt a low blow in June when its Waltzing Matilda Centre was destroyed by fire.

One of the first to vow that the national tourist treasure would rise like a phoenix from the ashes was Robyn Stephens, the 67-year-old livewire tourism advocate who has called Winton home since birth.

She's about to clock up 30 years, just a tad under half her life, coordinating the town's legendary Outback Festival, famous for its Australian Dunny Derby, which attracts more than 4000 visitors.

It ironically began in 1972 as a fight-back project after years of drought in the 1960s.

"Social events had become fewer and the whole topic of conversation revolved around the dreaded D word," Robyn recalled.

Business houses and the community in general rallied behind an event designed to stimulate a drought-stricken community and build its economy.

It has gone on to claim an important biennial date on the outback tourism calendar, due in no small part to "Australia's longest-serving volunteer".

Thirty years ago Robyn put her hand up to fill in for the secretary for three months. That turned into a three-decade-long position.

Winton is in Robyn's blood. Her parents owned Winton's Supreme Bakery and her father Fred was a master baker.

Robyn's first job was as a clerk in the local National Australia Bank before leaving to help her parents in the family business.

"I think this was when my hard-working days started. We would be up early making over 15,000 loaves of bread a week," she said.

These days she juggles her festival role along with her work as a Winton Shire councillor, a board member of the Waltzing Matilda Centre and the Outback Queensland Tourism Association and secretary of the Winton Golf Club and the town's Diamantina Heritage Truck and Machinery Museum. And then there's her role as a committee member of the historical society and Regional Arts Development Fund.

Her long-term, passionate focus on working for Winton brought her an Order of Australia Medal in 2002 for community service. "I have a passion for my town. I was born and bred here. While I can do this and keep this event alive I will. I don't know how much battery life is left in me."

She is looking forward to welcoming plenty of visitors who want a real taste of "fair dinkum" hospitality when the five-day festival starts on September 22.

"It tends to be either feast or famine here - this time it's drought," she said.

"Well, we might be droughted but business is still open and we still need people to come here and help our economy.

"The blazing sunsets and the amazing landscapes are all still here."

And when you do step into the festival office, make sure you say hello to another of Winton's treasures.