Campaspe and Murray River councils town crier Judy Campbell is headed to the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers’ Championship.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
Judy Campbell speaks loud and proud for the people of the Murray River and Campase councils: but she’s no councillor, in fact, she’s not even political.
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She serves both communities as a town crier, in a world where this cherished tradition faces extinction.
There are only 30 of the original “newsmen” representing towns across the sunburnt country.
In her black coat embroidered with a deep purple and an undercoat matching the golden bell she waves over her head, Mrs Campbell exudes the ancient character of the town crier to her very bones.
It was not a career she ever even considered when she was younger, but she claims she was always just as theatrical.
Mrs Campbell's vocal training mirrors that of an opera singer, incorporating rigorous exercises like breath control and vocal projection, techniques she still employs today to maintain her commanding voice.
She is in the middle of training for her upcoming appearance at the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers’ Championship where she will compete against 30 town criers from across the United Kingdom and Canada as the sole Australian representative.
She will first go to Montgomery, Wales, from September 13 to 15 before heading straight back to Australia to compete in the Australian championships on September 21.
At competitions, criers are judged on clarity, diction, volume, sustained performance in the presentation, and the content of their cries.
“We’ve gotta be loud, we’ve gotta be clear, and we’ve gotta have our cries under 125 words,” she said.
Mrs Campbell has only seen success since beginning her duties more than 30 years ago, from becoming the Australian champion of town crying to being awarded the runner-up world champion in 1997 – only three years following her appointment.
Her cries have been heard all over the world, and she’s not limited to the English language.
She has learnt how to proclaim in Maori and French, which has opened up possibilities to compete in international competitions and meet people from all walks of life.
When she’s not jet-setting the world and competing in international events, Mrs Campbell is attending events as the Town Crier of Campaspe and Murray River.
She is known to officiate weddings, funeral proceedings and even baby naming ceremonies, for those who want the unique experience of having their loved ones declared.
“We must, at all times, uphold a standard because we are reflecting not only our council, but also the people within our shires, so we’re ambassadors for the area,” she said.
“It’s amazing opportunity to be given a gift, and to be able to use it is incredible.”
Mrs Campbell started her career as a town crier in 1994.
In the same moment she also became the first female Town Crier in Australia and the only official Town Crier for the full length of the Murray River.
Proclaimations have to be short, sharp and sweet to be the best of the best, and Judy Campbell can do all of that and in multiple languages, citing Maori and French as languages she’s previously proclaimed in.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
• If you would like to support Mrs Campbell’s journey to Wales, you can donate to her GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/630bba3c.
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