In Canberra, a familiar civic voice has reached an extraordinary milestone. Joseph McGrail-Bateup, a 58-year-old air conditioner cleaner and honorary town crier, has been recognized by Guinness World Records for producing the loudest shout ever recorded from a person.
During a studio attempt on May 2, he shouted the word "now" at 122.4 decibels, a level comparable to the sound of a jet taking off nearby. The result surpassed the previous mark of 121.7 decibels, set in 1994 by Northern Irish teacher Annalisa Flanagan with the word "quiet."
The record was measured by a professional acoustic engineer, and the difference may seem small on paper, but sound intensity rises on a logarithmic scale. That means McGrail-Bateup's attempt represented a meaningful increase in acoustic energy.
He said the word was chosen carefully because it was short, sharp, and easy to deliver in one burst. The attempt took seven tries, and he noted that such a feat cannot really be trained for in the usual sense. Afterward, his voice was hoarse for days, a reminder of how intensely the human vocal system works when pushed to its limits.
McGrail-Bateup's role as Canberra's official town crier, known as Lord Joseph, has long centered on public announcements at community events. In 2024, he also won a town crier competition with a 98-decibel call. He said he was pleased that Flanagan remains recognized as the loudest woman while he holds the men's title.
The record highlights both the science of sound and the enduring appeal of human performance. It also shows how even a single word can become a benchmark for vocal power, and how future record attempts may keep redefining what the human voice can achieve.
