Qld Rock Icon Carol Lloyd Passes Away After Lengthy Illness

Beloved Queensland musician and the woman widely regarded as Australia's original 'rock chick', Carol Lloyd, has passed away after more than two years battling terminal pulmonary fibrosis.

According to a post on the 'Carol Lloyd & Railroad Gin Fans United' Facebook page, Lloyd passed away at Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, this morning.

Lloyd was best-known as the frontwoman of seminal Brisbane rockers Railroad Gin, featuring on their albums A Matter Of Time (1975) and Journey's End (1976), as well as leading the Carol Lloyd Band — with whom she released one album 1976's Mother Was Asleep At The Time — and a solo artist, releasing her album Take It Or Leave It in 1981.

She was the first Australian artist of any gender to score a wordwide publishing contract with respected multinational EMI, and scored certified international success with Railroad Gin for their tracks A Matter Of Time, Do Ya Love Me and You Told The World.

In October last year, a new eponymous award was launched in her honour, providing a $15,000 prize to be bestowed upon an emerging female singer-songwriter from anywhere in Queensland, with the funds directed towards helping them record an original album, or to record an EP and embark on an accompanying tour.

When unveiling the award, Queensland Music Festival artistic director Katie Noonan described Lloyd as "a legend, and a much-loved and highly respected member of the Queensland music industry family", and acknowledged that the veteran rocker had "paved the way for countless female musicians like me".

Sadly, Lloyd did not live to see the first recipient bestowed with the prize: entries for the inaugural Carol Lloyd Award are still open, until 31 March, with the winner set to be announced at the launch of this year's QMF event.

Queensland Premier and Minister for the Arts, Annastacia Palaszczuk, honoured the local icon in a statement this afternoon, saying that she was "saddened" to hear of Lloyd's passing.

"Carol was a trailblazer in rock'n'roll and she was passionate about encouraging the next generation of musicians," Palaszczuk said in a statement.

"She was a family friend and an inspiration to me. I admired her and I will miss her. She was warm, funny and inspirational. Through her illness, Carol remained positive."

Tributes have begun to pour in for the late singer as news of her passing has spread.

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