Southport AFC Club President receives one AFL’s top awards.
Southport Club President Dr. Alan Mackenzie has been named as the 2012 Jack Titus award winner by the AFL.
Named in honour of former champion Richmond player and leading administrator Jack Titus, the award is given for outstanding service to a club.
Dr Mackenzie has been president of Southport Football Club for 38 years, during which the club has competed in 29 Grand Finals for 18 premierships.
He served as club doctor, a selector and match committee chairman at the Brisbane Bears and Brisbane Lions, worked with the Allies State of Origin team and in various capacities with Queensland open and junior representative teams.
Dr Mackenzie said that he was delighted to have his contribution to the game acknowledged at such a high level.
“It’s a tremendous honour,” he said.
“It’s one of the AFL’s most prestigious awards and I’m thrilled to be recognised.”
A passionate Queenslander, Dr Mackenzie was also a key member of the GC17 bid team with current Gold Coast Suns club chairman John Witheriff and other bid team members Graham Downie, Dale Dickson and Bob Gordon, before joining the board of the Gold Coast Suns.
In 2000 Dr Mackenzie received the Australian Sports Medal, followed by the AFL Merit Award and the inaugural Gold Coast Bulletin Sports Award in 2003.
A Life Member of AFL Queensland, Dr Mackenzie was rightfully inducted into the QAFL Hall of Fame in 2008 before being recognised as a QAFL Legend in 2011.
Though there have been many great moments during his football career, Dr Mackenzie cites his first year at Southport as a standout.
“To win a premiership in the first year (1983) at the club was a real highlight,” he said.
“It had been a bit of a battle for recognition of Gold Coast footy at that stage, so to win gave us a real sense of achievement.”
Dr Mackenzie says he has no plans of retiring from football any time soon.
“I’ve got no reason not to continue,” he said.
“I’m enjoying it too much.”
