your board

Clubs Queensland is governed by a Board who oversee the administration of the association, in trust, for its members.
 
There are currently eight (8) members of the Board including the President who is the primary conduit with Clubs Queensland Management. There are elections for the positions of the President and the Board annually based on the expiry of individual’s tenure to ensure continuity of business and Board policies.

terry mcdonald, president

PRESIDENT, NERANG RSL AND MEMORIAL CLUB INC
p: 0411 108 717
e: president@clubsqld.com.au

(holds Office until 2022)

Terry is without doubt a ‘club man’ whose contribution to the industry has been great and spanned many years.

Retiring as a Warrant Officer Class 2 in 1993, after 20 years in the military (Army-Royal Australian Armoured Corps), Terry McDonald has made a significant contribution to the Queensland Clubs Industry over the past two decades. 

He has been involved in leadership roles with Benowa Bowls Club, Surfers Paradise Surf Lifesaving Supporters Club, Canungra RSL and of course, Nerang RSL. Terry has also served as a board member of Clubs Queensland.

Perhaps his biggest contribution to date has been to Nerang RSL, a struggling club in the mid 90’s, today – a thriving community hub with numerous awards and accolades and a membership base currently exceeding 41,000 members.  Through his roles on both the Nerang RSL Board of Directors and the Nerang RSL Sub Branch Executive, Terry has helped to foster one of the most productive and complimentary sub branch / memorial club relationships of any club in the State.
 
Terry is also a savvy businessman.  In 1996, he started his own cleaning company still in operation today and in 2004, was the owner of the Nerang Fair Tavern.  At the 2017 Keno and Clubs Industry Awards, Terry was presented with the MAX Service to Industry Award in recognition of his contribution to the club industry and community.
 
On his new role as President of Clubs Queensland, Terry has this to say:

“I believe that Clubs Queensland, as a Union for Employers in the industry, is a very sound and professionally run organisation that is well respected in both political and community spheres.
 
The voice that Clubs Queensland has, was not development overnight and must be nurtured and enhanced into the future through strategic leadership, risk management and effective governance.
 
I am willing and capable to work with fellow board members in ensuring that Clubs Queensland can tackle and conquer any challenge that is directed our way, enhancing this great industry into the future.
 
It is my view that Clubs Queensland needs to continue to address any challenges putting pressure on Club viability, such as the hard times recently affecting our regional areas, casino expansion and integrated resort developments in Brisbane and the Gold Coast and continuing Director training recognition to name a few.
 
The great work of the past and present Board Members must be endeared and improved upon to ensure we maintain the ear of politicians and equally important, listen and guide the member clubs of this unique industry for the benefit of the wider community.”

john mccallum OAM, northern region  

GROUP EXECUTIVE MANAGER, BROTHERS LEAGUES CLUB, (CAIRNS) LTD
p: 07 4053 1053
e: em@brotherscairns.com.au
 (holds Office until 2021)

gavin lyons, northern region

p: 0419 712 917
e: gavjl@outlook.com
(holds Office until 2022)

Prior to his retirement, Gavin was employed in local government in Townsville since 1974 and spent the final 20 years as a Director. He has been heavily involved with Brothers Townsville and spent 21 years playing for the club before finishing in 1984. He became President of Brothers Townsville Football Club in 1985 until 1993 and joined the Board of the Leagues Club in 1987 and has since continued on the Board. He was elected Chairman in 1998 and currently still hold that position. Gavin was awarded the Clubs Queensland Club Director of the Year in 2008 and is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  Gavin is a strong advocate for community clubs and the benefits they bring to our local communities.

will schroeder, central & western region

CEO, YARALLA SPORTS CLUB
p: 07 4979 8270
e: will@yaralla.com.au
(holds Office until 2022)

Will became involved in the club industry over 11 years ago, as the Marketing Manager at Tamworth Services Club and later served as Sub – Assistant Manager at South Sydney Leagues Club from 1998-1999. Will is committed to continuing with the Zone’s current efforts to achieve a higher profile for clubs in the Capricornia Zone, to improve communication throughout the zone and to ensure that all clubs, irrespective of type or size, are effectively represented on the Board of Clubs Queensland.

tony castro, vice president & central & western region

SECRETARY, THE WAVES
p: 07 4152 1531
e: acastro3@bigpond.com
(holds office until 2021)

Tony was born and bred in Bundaberg and owns a sugar cane farm as part of a family company. Tony is a member on the Management Committee of The Waves as Secretary and has held that position for the past 20 years. He also has a position on the Club’s corporate governance sub-committee. Tony has also been appointed to the Bundaberg Region Sport & Recreation Advisory Group by the Bundaberg Regional Council for a period of two years from November 2011. The role of this advisory group is to assist the Council with its strategic planning and development of sporting and recreational facilities within its regional boundaries. Other commitments include being a director of Bundaberg CANEGROWERS  Ltd and the Queensland Cane Growers Organisation Ltd. Both bodies are grower representative bodies that act as a lobby group to governments on members’ behalf.

suzanne long, south-east region

GENERAL MANAGER, NAMBOUR RSL 
p: 07 5441 2366
e: slong@nambourrsl.com.au
(hold office until 2021

Suzanne is a 27 year veteran of the Club Industry and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Progressing through administration and management roles she took over as General Manager at Nambour in 2009. Suzanne transitioned the Nambour Club from an Incorporated Association to a Company Limited by Guarantee in 2018 and has been the primary driving force behind the development of a new Community Club on a Greenfield site at Sippy Downs. Formal studies in Accounting has provided Suzanne in depth financial knowledge and she has intimate knowledge of every facet of the workings of Clubs and the Club industry gained through 27 years of on the job experience.  Suzanne is passionate about the club industry and hopes to use her position on the board to help all Clubs, large and small, remain viable and relevant in today’s challenging business environment.

kelvin patch, south-east region

CEO, CABOOLTURE SPORTS CLUB INC
p: 07 5497 9711
e: kelvin@cabsports.com.au
(hold office until 2020)

Kelvin commenced his employment in the hospitality industry at the age of eighteen (18) throughout a number of venues in his home town of Tweed Heads. In the year 2000 he ventured north to Queensland and was appointed Secretary Manager of the Blue Fin Fishing Club, in 2004 he was employed as the Secretary Manager of the Caboolture Sports Club and later as the club’s Chief Executive Officer.

He has a business degree obtained at Southern Cross University and a commitment to ensure that the Queensland Community Club sector is united in it’s objective for the provision of each and all disciplines and the wider community. 

DIRECTOR, BRISBANE RACING CLUB
p: 0414 777 660
e: sgagel@brc.com.au
(holds office until 2020)

Steve is a Chartered Accountant and Director of Prosperity Advisers Group, with 25 years of experience and has had the opportunity to work on many clients within the hospitality industry; from cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and associated parties supplying the industry. This work lead to the appointment as Director to the Brisbane Racing Club Limited (“BRC”) in 2013 and subsequent appointment as Chairman of the Finance Governance and Risk Subcommittee in 2014. Steve is actively involved in delivering a $1.2B master plan to release capital to future-proof the BRC to enable the realisation of its constitutional goals.

During the term of his directorship at the BRC, the BRC board has had a challenging time in converting the traditional racing club model into a multi-experience venue with broad income streams, including the recent purchase of Souths Sports Club at Acacia Ridge. Steve considers the role as an honour to serve on the board of a club that has history dating back to 1863 and considers himself a custodian of the club to ensure it survives well into the future. With any dramatic change, as has occurred at the BRC, there are plenty of road blocks and obstacles that must be overcome to achieve the original plan for the good of our members and the industry. Steve is aware that many clubs are under similar pressure to reinvent themselves and brings to the Clubs Queensland board this experience and understanding from a racing background.