7 of Toowoomba's favourite sons and daughters
WITH Henry and Mary Wagner to share the secrets to their business success, we list some of Toowoomba's favourite sons and daughters.
1. The Wagner family
HENRY was born and has lived in Toowoomba all his life. He attended Middle Ridge Primary School and St Mary's College before leaving school at the age of 15.
He became an apprentice stonemason and worked with his father and brothers for several years before starting his own company, Wagner Bulk Carriers.
Mary was born in Warwick and education at Clintonvale State School, Assumption College in Warwick and All Hallows in Brisbane.
After four years of nursing at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, Mary pursued a nursing career in Toowoomba before marrying Henry in 1958.
Together with their sons John, Denis, Neill and Joe, Henry and Mary built their business, Wagners, from a small operation employing six people into a large company boasting nearly 800 employees.
2. Geoffrey Rush
GEOFFREY Roy Rush is an actor and film producer.,
He is the youngest of the few people who have won the "Triple Crown of Acting" - the Academy Award, the Primetime Emmy Award, and the Tony Award.
Rush was born in Toowoomba, Queensland, the son of Merle Bischof, a department store sales assistant, and Roy Baden Rush, an accountant for the Royal Australian Air Force.
3. Will Power
WILL Power is a motorsports driver who currently competes in the IndyCar Series, driving for Team Penske.
He was the 2014 IndyCar Series champion, and as of 2015 the most successful road and street course race winner in the series' history with 19 wins tied with Scott Dixon.
4. Gina Jeffreys
GINA Jeffreys is a country singer-songwriter.
She was born in Toowoomba and has often been called Australia's "Queen of Country" and has won numerous Australian country music awards.
_t1880.jpg "Govenor of Queensland, Penelope Wensley.")
5. Penelope Wensley
PENELOPE Wensley AC is a former Australian public servant, who was the Governor of Queensland from 2008 to 2014.
She was born in Toowoomba and joined the Australian Public Service (Department of External Affairs) in 1967 and in 2008 was appointed as the Governor of Queensland, succeeding Quentin Bryce, who was relinquishing the office prior to being sworn in as Governor-General of Australia.
She served as Governor of Queensland until July of 2014.
6. Clive Berghofer
CLIVE John Berghofer is an Australian property developer, politician and philanthropist.
He served on the Toowoomba City Council from 1973 to 1982, and was Toowoomba's 61st Mayor from 1982 to 1992.
He was National Party MLA for Toowoomba South from 1986-1991 and now works as a real estate developer in Toowoomba.
He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 1994 for service to the community, then in 2006 he was awarded an AM for his service to the community through philanthropic support of medical research, sporting and educational organisations in Queensland.
7. John McDonald
JOHN McDonald is a former rugby league footballer, coach and administrator.
The former centre or winger played for Valleys, Manly-Warringah, Queensland, New South Wales and Australia in a decorated playing career.
The QRL life member famously coached Queensland to victory in the first State of Origin game in 1980 before moving into the administrative ranks.
He served as Toowoomba/South-West delegate on the QRL board before taking over as chairman in 1992.
He also served as chairman of the International Rugby League Federation.
