Our History
The Foundation was established by Gladstone’s Late Mayor, Col Brown to provide financial support to the Region’s young sports people selected for either state or national representation.
The inaugural meeting of the Gladstone & District Sports Foundation was held on 29 April 1987 at the Gladstone City Theatre with massive community support representing most sporting organisations and some members of the public; a total of 50 very interested people in attendance. As a result, a permanent committee of volunteers headed by Mayor Col Brown (Chairman), Brian Niven (Deputy Chair), Secretary Grahame Burton, and Treasurer Peter Cass was formed. A constitution was drawn and with donations from sporting clubs, industry, Local Government and members of the public the Foundation commenced operation with $69,568.69. The Foundation continued its valuable assistance to local sportspersons under various hard-working committees until 2005.
On 9 November 2005 for various reasons, mainly new laws with public liability insurance, the Foundation became a Trust. The previous committee members retired and the Foundation Trust was born under the Chairmanship of Dave Burns, Deputy Chair Gail Sellers, Secretary Maureen Mason, Treasurer Karyn Lowe and Applications Co-ordinator James Black.
Col Brown’s initial idea was born when interest rates were high and the plan was to provide funding from the interest gained on the investment. Despite interest rates being much lower over a long period of time the current committee has, with skilful management and an annual donation from Gladstone Regional Council, managed to build funds to the extent that the Trust can now stand alone and will soon forego its Council support.
It is to be noted that the Trust operates separately from Gladstone Regional Council and is run by a small volunteer committee. In fact, Council does not provide funding assistance to our talented sportspersons; the Trust fills that gap.
Our Trustees
Our trustees are:
- Gail Sellers
- Maureen Mason
- Karyn Lowe
- Lynelle McGuire
- Chris Trevor
Gail Sellers
TrusteeFor most of her life Gail Sellers has had a huge interest in sport, from Vigaro and Netball at Primary School, Basketball and Tennis at High School and Squash and Softball later in life.
Gail believes in giving back to the community and was always involved in the administration of those sports.
She helped start a Softball Club, “Stellars”, which had nine teams from t-ball to A Grade. Gail worked with the late Mayor Col Brown when he set up the Gladstone District Sports Foundation and is delighted to be able to continue his work. Gail finds involvement with this group to be extremely rewarding as the young sportspeople excel in their chosen sport.
Maureen Mason
TrusteeMaureen has lived in the Gladstone region all her life. Forty-plus of those years was as an employee of Gladstone Regional Council, the majority of which as Assistant to the Mayor and CEO. She was fortunate to work with Mayor Col Brown throughout his lengthy term and saw first-hand his efforts to personally assist local athletes to compete at State and National level. Hence, Col devised the plan to engage with the community and form the Gladstone & District Sports Foundation (now a Trust). Through her work with Col she was very familiar with the Foundation but has only been directly involved as Secretary since it became a Trust in 2005.
Now retired, she enjoys helping to continue the work of the Trust and her involvement with other community groups, such as Boyne Tannum Meals on Wheels, BAM and the Gladstone Saiki Sister City Committee.
Maureen’s other passions are travel and tennis (mostly as a spectator). Lacking the athletic talents of the Trust’s recipients, she was never destined to succeed in the tennis world so Plan B is to attend the four Grand Slam events as a spectator. This she has managed through her other love – travel – with only the US Open left on the list.
She is proud to be part of the small volunteer group that ensures Col Brown’s vision lives on.
Karyn Lowe
TrusteeKaryn is a born and bred Gladstone girl who has served on many sporting committees in the region over the years, including:
* The Western Suburbs Swimming Club, when swimming out of the Gladstone Town Pool. She was part of the committee that built the John Dahl Pool
* Being the Team Manager with Western Suburbs Swimming for many years
* Past secretary of Tannum Sands Seagulls Rugby League Club
* Vice President of the Gladstone Netball Association
* Founding President and Life Member of Curtis Coast Dolphins Netball Association in Boyne island
* Previous Beach Official for the Tannum Sands Surf Lifesaving Club (for over 10 years)
Lynelle McGuire
TreasurerLynelle is treasurer of Gladstone Special Olympics as well as Treasurer of the Sports Foundation.
Her sporting background is in Athletics, where she coached junior athletes for many years, specialising in throws coaching. She coached several athletes to national level, including her son, Thomas, who was Australian national U18 Hammer Throw champion competing both nationally and internationally. After the Gladstone & District Sports Foundation assisted him, she decided to give back by volunteering for the board and has been on the board since 2006.
Lynelle is a qualified accountant and HR Manager and works full-time as an HR consultant.
Chris Trevor
TrusteeCouncillor Chris Trevor has lived in the Gladstone Region for more than 50 years.
He was educated at Central State School and later Rockhampton Grammar School before completing his secondary education at Gladstone State High School.
Cr Trevor is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia, as well as a Justice of the Peace and Senior Counsellor of the Queensland Law Society. He is a former Gladstone City Councillor, former Deputy Mayor and was the first ever Federal Member for Flynn in the Australian House of Representatives.
Cr Trevor has dedicated his life to family, the law, public service and both charitable and sporting pursuits throughout Central Queensland.
Dave Manttan
Sports Foundation Committee MemberDavid has lived and worked in Gladstone since 1984. He has previously been the Principal of Gladstone Central, Gladstone West and Clinton State Schools before taking on the role of Assistant Regional Director of Education in the Central Queensland Region.
He has coached many school and community teams in Cricket, Football and Cross Country Running at local and Intra State levels, also involving himself in sports administration in cricket and football in local communities.
David was President of School Sport Australia (SSA) and Vice President of the International School Sport Federation for 4 years travelling extensively within Australia and Internationally. He led SSA in running interstate carnivals and events for 26 sports groups catering for 6500 students as well as re-establishing the Pacific School Games in Adelaide in 2015.
David is passionate about young people being involved in sport and supporting them to achieve their best.
Gail Williams
Sports Foundation Committee MemberGail is a born and bred Gladstone local.
Growing up she participated in several sports including netball, swimming and lifesaving. Gail is still involved with the Tannum Sands Surf Life Saving Club today and has been bestowed Life Membership for her dedication to patrols, training, assessing, coaching and competing at a State and National level.
Gail loves supporting the local talent in Gladstone to help athletes compete at the highest level and achieve their dreams.