Friendly honour for Maryborough

THE REST of Australia discovered yesterday what locals have known for years - that Maryborough is Queensland's Friendliest Town.

It was the second time the Heritage City has won the award, which was announced on Monday night at the Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland's Tidiest Towns Award.

Fraser Coast Deputy Mayor Julie Arthur said the judge had made her decision after being shown around Maryborough in just one morning.

"We literally had to run from place to place to fit everything in," Cr Arthur said.

After home-cooked morning tea at Gatakers Artspace, Mary Heritage and others took the judge on a whirlwind tour to demonstrate how Maryborough put out the welcome mat for visitors.

Mary Poppins Festival in the Park, the Staycations scheme and the electronic walking tour Discovery Trails were all highlighted as visitor-friendly attractions.

Fraser Coast Mayor Mick Kruger said he was delighted and proud to accept the award on the city's behalf.

"We have put a huge effort into promoting Maryborough and the Fraser Coast as the best place to visit, work and live, because we know that it is, and this award illustrates this perfectly," he said.

Maryborough will be presented with a large billboard declaring it the Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland's Tidiest Towns Friendliest Town.