Some of the world’s best town criers made their voices heard at Flagstaff Hill on Saturday. Assembling for the National Town Crier Championships, the dozen decibel-strong voices from across the country tested their vocals before a crowd of curious onlookers.
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Town Crier Australian chief judge Mark Overell said the cries were all noteworthy.
“It was a tight competition as we’d expected,” he said. “The standard was very high. Some of these competitors have featured in the world’s top five.”
This year’s theme was Shipwreck Coast. Competitors presented two town cries up to 125 words each.
Cries were judged on poise, bearing, confidence, volume, clarity, content, pitch and protocol.
“And volume,” Mr Overell said. “These criers are louder than a lawnmower.”
The overall winner of the competition was Stephen Clarke from tNew South Wales’ central coast, with Kevin Howarth from Toowoomba the loudest at 95.7 decibels.
