John Healy was an early resident of Dalby and became the town's second Mayor in 1864. A newspaper article from 1938 described John Healy as a well-loved, and popular member of the Dalby community, stating that "few of the earliest inhabitants left a happier impression upon the history of Dalby than John Healy".
A native of Galway, Ireland, John Healy was one of Dalby's earliest residents, and was known for his kind nature, and goodwill to all. He was a prominent hotelkeeper and water carrier by trade and was known to cart water from the well at the corner of Drayton and Cunningham Streets, a well which gave the town a "never-failing supply of cool, pure water".
John was known to urge his old horse 'Magic' to the strains of "Hoo! Tiddle-tum, tiddlety, tiddle tum, tiddlety, tiddle-tum!" which eloquently expressed the exuberant goodness of the man who made the Dalby streets echo with his joyous song and laughter.
When 'Magic' died, it was said that he fretted for a long time over the loss of his old animal friend.
John Healy died on 30 July 1909 at the age of 83 years and was buried in the Dalby Cemetery.
