Remembering Angie Baby
Angelo Hercules Panayiotou, was famous across the region and beyond as a fun-loving, vibrant man with one of the kindest hearts you’ll ever come across. Known by all as Angie Baby, he had been labelled as a Water Festival Icon and a living legend in every community he touched.
A Burdekin treasure, his love for entertainment stemmed from his simple desire to light up anyone’s face with a smile. Each year, the community could expect Angie Baby to put on a show as part of the Burdekin Water Festival parade down Queen Street, and many locals recall his outfits to be reflective, glitzy, flamboyant and nothing short of extravagant.
Described as the epitome of an extrovert, Angie Baby’s contagious charisma began from his school days, and has been singing, dancing and performing for as long as anyone can remember. He has been remembered as the kind of person who would never forget your birthday and would often gift a rose to you each year. Annually, the local hospital’s maternity wards would be lined with flowers on Mother’s Day, gifted by Angie Baby as he visited with a basket overflowing with frangipanis. Angie Baby was also a man with a vision, and a strong willingness to help each and every person he came across. From lending $20 to a stranger and never asking for it to be paid back, to joining community groups in the political sphere, his kind-heartedness was like no other.
In Angie Baby’s later years, he spent time in aged care facilities after living contently in a caravan park in Canberra. Angie Baby regularly entertained the patients in the dementia wards, running the same show each week and without fail, continuing to bring plenty of smiles and laughter to his entire audience.
His passing was shared on Facebook by one of his dear friends and has been flooded with hundreds of comments from locals recalling their love for Angie Baby, and their treasured memories on how they were touched by his lovable personality.
A true legend of the Burdekin, a secret saint, and Burdekin Royalty, Angie Baby sadly passed away peacefully on Tuesday 21 May 2024 at the age of 73. His kindness, and pure heart will never be forgotten.
