Brisbane finally has an official town crier. The winner was selected after the final contestants competed in a cry-off in King George Square.

Lewis Wiseman reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Host: “Brisbane City shall hereby decree the services of Brisbane’s first official Town Crier.”

Brisbane will forever remember the day the city appointed its very first official Town Crier.

Outside City Hall, four contestants fought it out in the most epic of crying battles.

The four contestants were: Frederik Krebs.

Frederik Krebs: “Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!”

Mike McHutchinson.

Mike McHutchinson: “Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye!”

Mandarella Partridge.

Mandarella Partridge: “Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye!”

And Patrick Keane.

Patrick Keane: “Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Hear Ye!”

Each crier had to perform a cry about the city of Brisbane, while projecting their voice as loud as possible.

The judges included the Lord Mayor, a local radio host and the Chairman of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Australian Town Criers, Mr Maxwell Bissett.

All the contestants fought a tough cry, however the best person for the job turned out to be a woman.

A first-time town crier, Mandarella Partridge was awarded the ultimate prize.

Mandarella Partridge, Brisbane Town Crier: “I am honoured to be Brisbane’s first town crier and I hope I serve this city well.”

Maxwell Bissett believes the appointment of a female town crier is very exciting for Brisbane.

And he praised all the contestants.

Maxwell Bissett, Judge: “There was not a lot between the top two criers, the others may have got distracted on the day.”

Mandarella will be the town crier for four years and will now represent the city at the National Town Crier Championships in September.

Mandarella Partridge, Brisbane Town Crier: “I’m gobsmacked, I wasn’t expecting to win.”

Lewis Wiseman, QUT News.