What are you up to these days?
I am the Director General for the Department of Sport & Recreation in Western Australia and basically help run all matters surrounding sport and recreation for the State.
Currently one of my key projects is to build a new major multi-purpose football stadium. It will be in addition to the new State basketball centre, new State athletic centre and new State hockey centre. We’re also just in the middle of building a new netball centre.
Then there’s a whole range of other things associated with the department. We run all outdoor events in WA and administer the adventure standards for things like four-wheel driving, abseiling, bushwalking, canoeing, kayaking and the sort.
While we fund different sports for high performance outcomes, we also do a lot for the social good of the community. We focus not only on physical health, but also recognise the value sport plays in mental health.
We’ve actually just received $20 million funding to pay for children from disadvantaged families to join sporting clubs. Of those disadvantaged families, 50% are Indigenous while the other 50% are unemployed or single parent families who often never join a community organisation.
If we can get some of these children joining sporting clubs, then we could potentially provide them with a decent pathway.
I’m certainly passionate about it - but most of my life I’ve been passionate about something.
What are your fondest memories of your time at Fitzroy?
I started with the Club in 1976 and we made Finals for the first time in 16 years in 1979. That was pretty special.
We had a great group of players and a really good board and administration.
One of the things that really stood out was the passion of our supporters. I’m a sort of people’s person, and I really enjoyed meeting all the different types of people as well as playing and competing at the highest level during a relatively successful era.
Being in Melbourne was fantastic. I was probably a bit reluctant to move initially, but really enjoyed it and ended up staying for six years.
Do you still catch up with any of your former team-mates?
Ian Miller is over her in WA so we still catch up from time to time.
I also catch up with Chris Hansen occasionally and Chris Smith who’s now living in Shepparton. I bump into various players around the way.
The Brisbane Lions are currently in the process of updating their database of past players and coaches. If you played a senior match with Fitzroy, the Bears or the Brisbane Lions (or know someone that has) and haven’t remained in contact with the Club, please email your phone and address details to melbourne@lions.com.au so that we can keep you in touch with any future events with past players.
