Community
15 November, 2024
Town ‘character’ named festival ambassador
THE Koroit Irish Festival will once again use its reach to shine a spotlight on one of the town’s most beloved characters.
Billy Dwyer has been announced as the 2025 Koroit Irish Festival Ambassador.
The festival, which will run from April 25-27, will once again draw thousands of visitors to the town.
Mr Dwyer has lived in Crossley, just down the road from the Koroit township, all his life.
He has many and varied claims to fame, all of which are celebrated by the Koroit Irish Festival.
He is a legend in the Koroit and district spud picking trade, being regarded as one of the fastest and best pickers back in his prime.
Mr Dwyer was one of the few who could regularly pick over 100 bags (50 kilos) in a day.
He was also a successful spud grower, dairy farmer, and was a star footballer for Tower Hill ‘back in the day’, winning a senior Warrnambool and District Football League best and fairest in 1968, aged just 19.
Mr Dwyer is also a former winner of the league’s top award in the under 17s competition - a tough and skillful ruck-rover he also played senior football for Koroit.
A father of four and proud grandfather, Mr Dwyer has a rich Irish heritage.
The Dwyer family emigrated from County Limerick in Ireland in the 1850s.
Mr Dwyer’s farm is on the land his ancestors first settled when they came to Australia.
He is one of six children to Jack and Katie Dwyer, with siblings Mary (O’Brien), John, Tom, Carmel (Hughson) and Cornelius.
Mr Dwyer served his country in the Vietnam War, his two-year stint in the army including active service.
Koroit Irish Festival president Adele MacDonald said Mr Dwyer was a deserving ambassador.
“We are so happy to be able to honour Bill,” Mrs MacDonald said.
“He is someone we have had in mind for ambassador for a while now and 2025 was the perfect fit.
“Not only is Bill the perfect Koroit and Irish fit, his service to his country is incredible. Given next year’s festival’s first day is Anzac Day, honouring Bill gives us a chance to also pay the respect our service men and women deserve on their special day.”
Mr Dwyer will be the guest of honour at the opening night concert on Anzac Day.
For the man himself, being selected as the festival ambassador came as a big but welcome surprise.
While he is a humble man who lets his hard work and actions do the talking, Mr Dwyer is excited about his new role.
“It’s great to be chosen as ambassador,” Mr Dwyer said.
“We always go up to Koroit for the festival, it’s a great thing for the town.”
Tickets to this year’s Koroit Irish Festival are now on sale and can be purchased from the event’s website.
