A life-time servant of Australian Football, he has been president of Southport Football Club for almost 35 years after a distinguished playing career and has also served the code with distinction as a volunteer medical officer, coach, selector and administrator. A born and bred Queenslander, he was a foundation junior player with Sherwood and played 110 Queensland Australian Football League games with neighbouring Western Districts (1964-70). Represented Queensland at 19 and captained Wests at 23 before an injury-forced retirement the next year.
Graduated in medicine from the University of Queensland in 1969, and after moving to the Gold Coast in 1972 has operated a full-time general practice in Surfers Paradise for 36 years. Was elected Southport president in November 1973 aged 27 after the club’s executive committee resigned suddenly and has overseen the growth of arguably Australia’s No.1 domestic football operation. Under his direction the former Southport Magpies, a powerhouse in the Gold Coast competition, stepped up as the Southport Sharks into the now AFL Queensland State League in 1983.
In 35 years as president he has seen his club play in 29 senior grand finals for 18 premierships while the licensed club has grown into a much-admired $20million business. He served the Brisbane Bears/Lions for six years (1992-98) as club doctor, selector and match committee chairman, and has filled countless similar roles with the Allies State of Origin side, Queensland Open and junior representative teams, and Gold Coast representative teams.
A Life Member of AFL Queensland, he received the Australian Sports Medal (2000), the AFL Merit Award (2003) and was the inaugural recipient of the Gold Coast Bulletin Sports Award (2003). Is set to play a key role in the birth of the Gold Coast AFL club as a director of the GC17 Bid Team.
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