Rosewood Lions Citizen of the Year nominee, Pat Lenihan (Senior) has been a lifelong member and supporter of the Rosewood community.
When Pat was 10 years old, Bob Sellars offered him a job at the Sellars grocery store in the main street of Rosewood after school, stacking shelves, cleaning floors and delivering groceries around the town.
Later, Pat joined his father, Tom Lenihan, in working at the Normanton Colliery which was owned by the Boughen and Trewick families. He worked there alongside other Rosewood men until he was retrenched at the age of 27.
One of Pat’s jobs was to handle the pit ponies by bringing them up to the surface for fresh air and sunshine. He has a natural affinity with horses and is known as one of the best horse handlers around.
Pat is a people person who enjoys interacting with others, having a joke, telling a yarn or reminiscing about shared experiences, and it is this aspect of Pat, along with his kindness that sets the basis for the many things he does in the community.
One of these is Pat’s active involvement with the St Brigid’s Catholic Church and for many years now he has helped run the Cent Auctions to raise money for the church.
In 2020, the heritage listed church of St Brigid’s was found to have developed a dangerous lean which led to its immediate closure, though due to the building’s importance, Pat helped seek the funding required to fix the problems.
During 2020, with the local churches closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Father Stephen Bliss asked Pat to ring the Angelus Bell which is a specific pattern rung at midday, to remind the community that the church was still there for them and to uplift their spirits despite the uncertainty of the pandemic.
The midday bell was known by all locals as a welcome and comforting sound heard right up into the business area of the main street.
From a young age Pat established his involvement with the local show and he has been a member of the Show Society for more than 50 years. He is now a Life Member.
Understanding that agricultural shows are an important trade event for primary producers, Pat has been involved in every aspect and area involved in successfully organising the Show each year.
As well as the Show, Pat has spent many hours preparing and leading in assisting with the Show Ball – a tradition in which his family have now followed in his footsteps.
His association with Agricultural Shows goes all the way to the Brisbane Exhibition where he is an exhibitor and also the Horse Superintendent organising accommodation for competitors and stabling for the horses.
Pat’s passion for Rosewood saw him donate a block of land to the local council for use as a town park, it is named after his father, Tom Lenihan.
People know Pat as a person who builds a community, he offers his own time, resources and enthusiasm to the important civic institutions that support and ultimately define Rosewood’s character.
