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Life member spotlight
Joined 2000, Life Member 2024
July 2026
My first thought, when I was asked to write something was, do I have anything meaningful to contribute? As the philosophical, running cardiologist, Dr George Sheehan, said at the beginning of his 1980 book, This Running Life: "To my readers who have thought what I have thought, felt what have I felt, and already know what I attempt here to put into words."
You were awarded life membership (2024), in a club with a long history. What did that recognition mean to you at the time?
Frankly, my first thought was embarrassment, as I knew how much more others had contributed to the club, like the person who made the announcement, namely Eddie. However, like most things, it was the thinking that did me in, and I realised that quite often it is the little things in life that add up to make a big difference. I hope that what I've written here can make a difference for others in the club.
Thinking back to when you first joined, what was the club like in those early days?
I first joined the club in its centenary year of 2000. 26 years down the track, it's hard to remember what the club was like.
I do remember joining on the first day of the 2000 cross-country season at Kedron State High. The president, Bruce Bodsworth, was very happy to see me outsprint a runner who'd left the club at the end of the previous season to join another club!
My other big memory from that year was us winning the open Caboolture to Maleny Road Relay, with six of our eight runners being over 40. Ashgrove Rangers had a star-studded over 40s team, and were looking forward to racing against us, but we had to run in the open, as Pat Carroll and another runner were still under 40. I was running the last leg, and I'd spent the morning in the car with Bruce and our vice-president, Barry Dobson, who between them had me absolutely revved up with tales of previous near misses. I ended up adding 40 seconds to our lead, to have us win by 2m01s over Ashgrove Rangers open team.
What are some of the biggest changes you've seen in the club?
Again, it's so hard to remember, as John Lennon sang: "Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."
However, I think the revamping of the club's singlets and t-shirts for our 125th anniversary has been a fantastic move. (I made sure I bought one of each singlet.) I still have my singlet from 2000, with its centenary badge, but like me, it's seen better days and has been relegated to parkrun appearances.
Do you have a favourite memory or moment from your time with the club?
Beside the above ones, to single out one, would be an injustice to all the others. Collectively, it's to see people going out and doing the best they can, no matter what their level of ability. Competitiveness is as much a state of mind as it is physiological.
Who are some of the people who had a big impact on your running journey?
The philosophical musings of George Sheehan have certainly helped shape my perspective on running, and life in general. I started running in 1978 and George's writings inspired a huge number of runners who started running in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Two friends from the early 1970s have also been a huge influence with our shared life-long passions for sport, music, and good beer. Having mates who haven't stopped having a go, helps normalise being active.
Finally, I must thank my best mate, John Sheer, whom I met the day before I started working for Telstra in 1985. Work brought John and his family to Brisbane in 1995, and the same for my family and me in 1997. I was starting to get old and grumpy, and I didn't compete seriously from 1995 to 2000. One day, in 1999 John and I went to a Lions match, and John still had mud on his legs from the cross-country championships, and I thought, "I've got to get back into this!"
What has kept you connected to the club over the years?
The camaraderie, which underpins much of our success (both sporting and social), has been vital. It's critical to not just do the hard work, but to also enjoy the hard work. Many people have contributed to the success over the years, whether they've been on the committee, or simply a club member.
Having worked closely with Eddie at various times, I've appreciated his humility and knowledge (and unexpected touches of humour) in leading the club. Wes is now ably following in his footsteps.
How has running (and the club), shaped your life outside of sport?
My serious involvement with endurance sport started with kayaking when I was fifteen. This led to running at twenty, and then more broadly to cycling and swimming, or simply going for a walk. These have been journeys of not just the body, but also of the mind and the spirit. Endurance exercise helps separate the wheat from the chaff in life, and there is certainly a lot of chaff!
Cycling brought a succinctness to my thought processes that 26 years of running had set the scene for.
What's one race or achievement that still stands out for you?
The Mount Misery Mini-Marathon in the Adelaide Hills in 1985. It wasn't just the fact that I won the race, but more the amazing scenery that the course was held over. I wish we'd had Garmin watches back then so that I could have recorded the course and its profile. It was also the day that I met John. So, not only did John and I end up in southeast Queensland, but also the race's organiser and legendary race caller, Brian 'Chappy' Chapman.
Although other medals and personal bests have been more significant, this one stands out as being the most memorable. (Hhhmm, the 2019 Australian Mountain Running Championships at Camp Mountain isn't far behind.)
What advice would you give to newer members or those just starting their running journey?