FNQ’s greatest sporting families spanning codes
We’ve revealed the greatest sporting families in FNQ, getting a glimpse into how they’ve shaped its landscape. SEE HERE >>>
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Many consider sporting clubs to be their families, but these FNQ clans take it literally when it comes to their relatives getting involved with sport in the region.
No matter the code, families have left their mark on clubs across the Far North in terms of their commitment and involvement, with following a few of the bigger names in the region.
Moore (rugby league)
It’s hard not to look through the Far North league history books and not stumble across one Moore or another.
The family has been a staple in shaping the competition into what it is today, largely thanks to the work of charismatic patriarch John Moore.
There’s little John hasn’t accomplished league-wise for not just the Far North, but the state.
He’s served as president of Brothers Rugby League, the chairman of Cairns Rugby League, the Northern District of Queensland Rugby League, Queensland Rugby League as well as a director of Australian Rugby League, and the chief executive of the Cairns Cyclones and Northern Pride.
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As if he wasn’t busy enough as it is, John’s four sons Michael, Brett, Sean and Danny made things interesting around the house.
All four played for Brothers, with Michael also getting a few Foley Shield appearances under his belt.
He also founded the Redlynch Razorback junior rugby league club, and is a judiciary official in Far North rugby league.
“He started that all by himself and has done a wonderful job at that,” John said.
Brett played league for Brothers until university but veered towards cricket, becoming an official in the Far North.
With most of the family suiting up in the green and blue of the Leprechauns, Sean preferred the blue and red.
“When I was president (of Brothers), this bloke Sean was the black sheep of the family – he played for Ivanhoes in the CDRL,” John jested.
“The reasoning behind why he did it was he just didn’t want be playing for the club I was the president of. He said if he did any good, people would reckon it was just because he was my son.
“He had a ball there.”
If Sean was one black sheep of the family, John jokingly said Danny was the other.
“He started playing with Brothers in junior rugby league and then he went to the dark side to play rugby union,” John said.
After playing union with the Australian Air Force in inter-military competitions, Danny settled down in Cairns and currently owns the Prawn Star restaurant.
Michael’s son Patrick took up the round ball for the Redlynch Cyclones, captaining its seniors team at 18.
His other son Ryan played league for Redlynch in juniors and Ivanhoes in seniors.
Brett’s two sons Connor and Patrick followed in their fathers footsteps in playing cricket.
Two of Danny’s daughters were no strangers to sport either, with Georgie playing tennis and Stevie futsal.
“I’ve got an extended family of 23 so it gets a bit bloody hard to keep track,” John joked.
With just about enough Moores to make up a team, backyard rugby sessions with the family were aplenty sufficed to say.
“Mate, it was bloody challenging I can tell you that,” John said.
“You end up with a few bruises, as they grew older.
“It was good fun growing up with the boys.”
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Campbell (AFL, netball)
If you’re wondering around Fretwell Park on game day, you’re bound to bump into one Campbell or another.
It was at the club Cameron and Megan Campbell first met, with their families having been heavily involved with Souths prior to them meeting.
Cameron has played Aussie rules for the club since he was a kid, rising up in the red white and green to eventually captain the team.
The skipper has led the Cutters’ seniors squad on to the field for most of the last decade, winning a premiership or two along the way and playing more than 250 games.
Megan grew up with the Cutters playing netball and junior football.
She currently serves as co-president of Souths’ netball club, and still plays A-grade netty for the team as well as coaching the lower grades.
With the two as passionate for the Cutters as Cameron and Megan, it only made sense their children – 10-year-old Brodie and 14-year-old Maddie took up one ball or another.
In his young age, Brodie has proven a jack of all trades, playing under-12 Aussie rules for Cutters, under-11 league for the Edmonton Storm, and taking up junior rugby union with the Barron Bulls, not to mention his commitment to these sports at a Peninsula (school) level.
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“He’s a busy boy at the moment … he absolutely loves his sport,” Cameron said.
“He goes really good – he played his first year of league and union last year and in rugby union he scored about 27 tries.”
Meanwhile, Maddie plays Aussie rules for the Gold Coast Suns Academy and the Cairns Pythons at a regional netball level.
This is on top of her commitment to Souths footy and netball programs making for another sport fanatic in the family.
“It’s getting pretty busy at the moment, it’s fun juggling all that at the moment,” Cameron said.
“There’s a lot of red, white and green involvement.”
When they’re not playing, the Campbell’s are helping out at the gate, bar and kitchen at Souths on game days, giving back to the club that helped form the family.
“For me, getting involved in team sport is where you get to have a lot of resilience in sports you may not be used to playing,” Cameron said.
“The mates you make and the families you meet and all those types of things; growing up, clubs are like a family.
“For the kids, it’s massive the things you learn in team sports – following the rules, getting along with people.
“It gives you a good grounding in life whether you’re good at it or not.”
Allen (rugby league)
Without the Allen family, there simply wouldn’t be a Kangaroos Rugby League Club.
Patriarch Don Allen established the club about 70 years ago, playing and coaching the club and winning a few finals before serving as its president.
Sons Brett, Gavin, Barry and Ray Allen have all donned the gold and blue as well.
Gavin – a legendary prop – took his talents to the top level, suiting up for the Brisbane Broncos, St George Dragons and representing the Maroons in the State of Origin in the early 90s.
Brett followed in his father’s footsteps to become the president of Kangaroos, a role he currently serves, with sons Jared Allen and Mitchell also playing for the club over the years.
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Jared – a championship-winning player in 2013 and 2014 – is in his second season as the men’s A-grade coach.
“We’re a pretty competitive family so we’re always trying to win games and we like contact sports,” Jared said.
“Because our family’s always been here, we always love to put our time back into the club – we’d do anything for the club.
“There’s photos all over Pop’s house of us in Kangaroos jerseys and Gavin in his Queensland and Broncos jersey.”
Van Vuuren (cricket)
For the van Vuuren boys, there’s nothing more important than cricket.
Christo 18, Dante 16 and Marko 12 van Vuuren all play cricket for Tully and Mission Beach, with their father Kobus van Vuuren serving as the Mission Beach president.
Moving to Melbourne from South Africa in 2008, the van Vuuren boys picked up the bat and ball at the Rupertswood Cricket Club – the birthplace of the Ashes.
They pursued their passion for cricket upon moving to Mission Beach.
“I grew up with rugby, but the boys picked up cricket and it’s something they really like,” Kobus said.
Three cricket guns spread across age groups travelling around the Far North is a recipe for many hours poured into their sporting commitments.
“A round trip for us is about six hours for each game of cricket,” Kobus said.
“What little spare time we have is probably 100 per cent into it (cricket).”
“We’re looking forward to the off-season.”
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Nasser (cricket)
It’s hard to find a name more synonymous with Tablelands cricket than Nasser.
Paul, Brendan and cousins Alex, Isaac, Lewis (brothers) and William Nasser, as well as Rolly and Augie Thomas all come from the Nasser tree.
“It’s all we’ve ever done from a young age,” Paul Nasser said.
“At family barbecues – it was always backyard cricket … then it just rolled into senior cricket.”
The Nasser name has been carried through grades and years of cricket for Atherton, with Paula and Alex playing alongside one another in first grade this season.
“I played with Brendan, so playing with Alex is pretty special … I like playing with family.”
Naturally, a Nasser Boxing Day would not be complete without a match at the family farm, with bonds put to the test and bragging rights annually on the line.
“It gets very competitive,” Paul said.
“Everyone hates losing.”
Grace (softball, netball)
While sport is a commitment, it’s one the Grace family makes with a smile.
Mother Karyn and father Brad Grace have both been notable sporting identities in Cairns, with the former playing softball for the Redsox and the latter football with Edge Hill.
Karyn’s 15 years of playing softball even led to her representing Queensland during her career.
Their passion for playing bled through to their daughters – Emily, 16, and Bella, 14.
Both have shown to be adept at netball, playing for the Leprechauns locally as well as at a Peninsula level for school and a regional level with the Pythons.
“They love sport so we’ll take them whereever they want to go and whatever they choose to play,” Karyn said.
“We share it between both of us but it is a big commitment but we make it work – driving them around.
“It’s worth it though for sure.”
The softball apple also didn’t fall far from the tree, with Bella also picking up a knack for the sport and recently representing the region at state titles in Brisbane.
“She’s young but has all the experiences … as long as you come away from state titles having learnt something that’s what you hope for,” Karyn said.
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Other notable FNQ sporting families:
Fowler (rugby league)
Another notable family when it comes to sports in FNQ, including league stalwart Bob Fowler who is as former Brothers Rugby League Club president.
On top of his major impact at Brothers, he also played for Norths Devils in the Brisbane Rugby League, and has gone on to be a huge supporter of sport across the region.
His son, Paul, is a former Cairns Cyclones representative and also enjoyed a successful playing career with Brothers in the CDRL.
Maher (cricket)
The cricketing landscape would not be what it is in FNQ without the Mahers.
Kevin is an icon of the sport in the state. The current Queensland Country Cricket Association president has had a long standing in the game in the Sunshine State.
His nephew, Jimmy Maher, played 26 One Day Internationals for Australia and was part of their 2003 World Cup-winning squad. He also played for Queensland for 15 years.
Slade (rugby league)
The Slades have been longstanding patrons of the Ivanhoes Knights.
The late Bruce Slade has a long history at Ivanhoes across all roles – playing, coaching and volunteering – and was made a life member of the Knights in 1972.
His son, Noel Slade, is another Ivanhoes great who grew up with the club. The one-time Cowboys player is also the current president.
Leah Slade is a tireless volunteer who has worked across rugby league in FNQ, and there are many more Slades who have been involved at the Smithfield club over its history.
Beecroft (basketball)
Mark Beecroft has played and coached basketball in Cairns over the past three decades, and is currently the general manager of the Taipans.
His wife Natalie is a tireless volunteer at Cairns Basketball, while children Jaylon and Isabel Beecroft have followed in his footsteps, earning representative honours throughout their young basketball careers.
Srhoj (soccer)
Mareeba and the Srhojs go hand-in-hand with the family’s impact in football well known in the region and Australia.
Former A-League star Wayne Srhoj is perhaps the most widely known, but there’s plenty of products to come from the aptly named Srhoj Road.
Wayne’s cousin Alex serves as FQ Far North and Gulf’s regional manager and has had a long history playing and coaching in Far North Queensland. He was coach of Mareeba Bulls in 2014 when they claimed the FNQ treble.
DID WE MISS SOMEONE? Let us know in the comments below, or send us your family’s sporting story at sports@cairnspost.com.au
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