Sporting family dynasties of the Wide Bay Burnett 2024
From football premierships to cricket pitch heroes, the Wide Bay and Burnett is peppered with intergenerational superstars whose families are synonymous with their sport or club. Here are some of the greatest families, their moments of glory and their legacies.
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The Wide Bay Burnett has long been the home to some of Australia’s most impressive sporting achievements and athletes, from international boxing champions to football heroes, Olympic medal winners and local club legends.
The secret behind these incredible achievements can often be traced to the generous support of families who have built up clubs through competition, coaching and volunteer commitment.
Not all heroes wear capes. Almost every sport in the region can credit its success to one or more families; those whose blood, sweat and tears made real the dreams and potential of young and talented sports stars.
When generations of one family succeed and support like this, their name becomes synonymous with that sport, or that club.
Here are 15 such families living, working and being local legends in the Wide Bay and the Burnett:
Johnson Family – Hervey Bay
Anyone who has ever spent time on the grounds of the Hervey Bay Seagulls football club will know the legacy of the Johnson family.
With decades of involvement in the club, from the year it was founded in 1973, generations of the Johnson family have become synonymous with local rugby league.
David Yarrow, the club’s unofficial historian, commented on the family’s legacy which was born with Bob Johnson, who he called the “heart and soul” of the club.
“They’ve been in every part of the club,” Mr Yarrow said.
“Every year someone from the Johnson family has been involved in the club, either playing or on the committee.
“The Johnson family pretty much created the club; there wouldn’t be anyone involved in the Seagulls club who wouldn’t know the family.”
Bob’s sons and nephews went on to take over the mantle of stewardship, with son Mick Johnson quickly taking the team to their first premiership win in 1974.
The A-grade player would pass along his own mantle to his children, including Danny, Anita and Teresa, who have remained actively involved with the club for decades.
“Teresa particularly was very, very involved in the committee; she’s a life member as is her husband,” Mr Yarrow said.
The legacy of the family’s dedication to the sport continues to flow in its veins, most prominently in Anita’s son J’maine Hopgood, the current lock for the Parramatta Eels.
Collins Family – Fraser Coast
Father and daughter duo Steve and Grace Collins have been a formidable force on Wide Bay cricket pitches, with more than 20 premiership wins between them as player and coach.
Steve first began his cricket career in Mackay, playing at a first grade level across the globe, including in England, the motherland of the iconic sport.
Throughout his sporting career, Steve won 13 premierships, an achievement he credits to the support of PE teachers Trudi Large and Pete McGiffin.
When he moved to Hervey Bay in 2006, he took on a coaching position as the Director of Coaching for Wide Bay.
When assessing the talents of his daughter Grace, it’s clear the cricketing bloodline is strong. At 10 years-of-age, Grace was named on the Queensland schoolgirls team.
Since 2017, the young athlete has gone from strength to strength, and at 13 she made her first grade debut for Brisbane, on top of representing her state every year.
“It’s part of our DNA. If we’re not playing, we’re coaching, or watching it on TV and supporting,” Steve said on his family's connection to the sport.
Throughout the years, Steve credited the game for strengthening the bond between father and daughter, with the duo often traveling the state and the country chasing games.
“It’s obviously her journey, we gave her encouragement at the beginning,” he said.
“But now it’s about helping her - training and coaching her - we’re at the stage where she drives that.
“The time together, the travel together, experiencing the highs and the lows, that’s been the best part.”
Dingle Family – Burnett
Over the decades the Dingle family has become synonymous with Queensland woodchopping, with multiple generations of the prominent Burnett family competing in the sport.
The legacy of the family continues in younger generations, backed by the strength, knowledge and determination of an undeniable family drive.
Speaking on the family’s connection to the sport, Lindsey Dingle said it began more than 70 years ago, when the family’s ancestors competed for fun, putting to test everyday skills developed from a life on the land.
“It came from the use of everyday tools, be that axes or saws, and in my opinion the family has stuck with the sport to keep that standard alive,” Lindsey said.
In recent years, standouts of the family have included Jake Dingle, who has competed at multiple Australian championships and Royal Shows across the country.
Younger brothers Dustin and Weston, alongside Lindsey’s son Kurt, have also competed at a high standard across the country, often putting the best woodchoppers to the test.
However, Lindsey has said the standout events aren’t those with national titles on the line, but the family name, including multiple events held across the country pitting dozens of Dingle family members against the best Australian woodchopping has to offer.
“We had 47 Dingles on the bus to Adelaide take on competition, and we won that event,” he said.
“We still rate the family ones higher than the ones with monetary gain because there’s a lot more pride in the event.”
Despite an impressive competitive history, the legacy of the Dingle’s comes down to their dedication to keeping the sport alive, often volunteering at rural shows, organising wood for competitions, finding sponsors and prize money for competitors.
“We like to see the next generation come through, the highlight is seeing the next generation achieve, there’s more of a sense of achievement there than with personal wins,” he said.
Deem Family – Bundaberg
As the coaching and talent specialist for Queensland Cricket, long time Bundaberg local Bruce Deem said his dedication to the sport was born from his father’s commitment to the game.
Cricket identity Jim Deem has become an icon of Wide Bay Burnett cricket, serving as a founding member of the Bundaberg Junior Cricket Association, President of the Bundaberg Cricket Association, President of the Bundaberg Cricket Umpires, work which earned him a life member award for Bundaberg Cricket in 1975.
So prevalent and respected was the work of Jim Deem, he received an OAM for his constant contribution to the game and in 2018 was selected to run the Queen’s Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games.
Speaking on his own decades of dedication to Bundaberg cricket, Jim’s son Bruce said his love of the game was born from following his father to the pitch.
“For me it came from my dad, he was a passionate cricketer and when I was a young fella, there was no junior cricket in Bundaberg as such and he and a number of other dads formed the junior cricket association,” he said.
Over the years Bruce competed at a first grade level, spending many years in Brisbane and playing for the Queensland Shield Squad (now known as the Queensland Bulls).
Despite being a keen and impressive competitor, Bruce said his commitment to the local club came from his father.
“I always thought I would be like my dad, follow him and part of what you do is give back to the game,” he said.
Kovacs Family – Bundaberg
Those watching this year’s Olympic Games might just see boxing coach Attila Kovacs on the screen, determinedly cheering on Bundaberg athlete Shannan Davey as he steps into the hallowed ring.
With years of boxing experience behind him, as both an athlete and a coach, Shannan represents the latest in a long line of athletes trained by Attila who have competed on the world stage.
Most notably, Attila’s own sons Paul, Denis and Philip have competed across the globe winning endless Australian championships and representing their home flag in some of the most competitive boxing countries on earth.
Speaking on what keeps him going after his own sons have retired from the competition ring, Attila said it came down to a pure love for the sport.
Attila found himself in the sport as a young man, seeking a way to separate himself from a “bad crowd” and redirect his energy.
“One day I made a decision, ‘I’ve got to do something to get out of this circle,’” he said.
Despite entering a very different sporting world than what modern boxing looks like today, Attila said his raw strength – built from being a butcher – kept him competitive in the ring and helped him go toe-to-toe with the best.
As life went on, and his family grew, he turned to coaching, introducing his sons to the sport at the tender age of 10, much to the initial protest of his wife Rita.
“We only started as a way for them to defend themselves, get confident, but they wanted to compete,” he said.
Speaking on his legacy as a coach, which continues to the largest podiums in the world, Attila said he persists in the hopes of helping others achieve their best.
“For me that is the biggest thing, it still makes me feel good, to help my athletes achieve something in their life,” he said.
Wieland Family – Gympie
At just 13 years-of-age, Chase Wieland has done more in his athletic life than most of us can dream of, travelling the world and winning Australian titles as a young bull rider.
Chase started riding mini bulls at just seven, and already has won two Australian titles, and in 2022 secured himself a place in the world finals after winning the Professional Bull Riding Can AM Academy Junior Championships.
In May of 2024, he and his dad Malcolm will compete to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, the largest rodeo competition in the world hosted in Las Vegas.
The event will represent years of dedication within the family, with young Chase following in his dad’s footsteps as a rodeo competitor of more than two decades.
Wife and mother Bec Wieland spoke on what it meant to watch her husband and now her sons compete in one of the most dangerous sports in the world, and win at the highest levels.
“I watched Malcolm ride for years and always had a little it of fear but it’s definitely a lot different when it’s your own flesh and blood out there,” she said.
As Chase progresses as an athlete and sets his sights on bigger goals, including being accepted into a bull riding scholarship at an American college, Bec said as a family they were working to keep Chase fit, healthy and dedicated.
“We’ve always told him as long as he keeps putting 100 per cent into the sport – as it is so dangerous – we will keep supporting him,” she said.
Parker/Tallon Family – Bundaberg
A young Bundaberg cricketer has spent years following in the illustrious footsteps of his grandfather Don Tallon, the famous Australian wicket keeper.
Matthew Parker began playing for the North Bundaberg Cricket Club at a young age as one of the many youngsters who reignited the club’s junior league.
Over the years young Matthew, who is now 18, looked up to the grandfather he never met as inspiration for his game, driving him to several representative titles.
Matthew’s father, Chris Parker, said as parents it was an honour to watch his son take after his grandfather and said the family’s only regret was that Don Tallon would never see Matthew play.
“He puts in so much because he has a real understanding of his family's connection to the sport,” Mr Parker said of his son’s dedication to the game.
In recent years Chris Parker has taken on umpire roles at the club, continuing the family legacy with the club which has stretched across generations and the globe.
“The family has had a long running connection with Bundaberg cricket and Norths in particular,” Mr Parker said.
Their connection to local cricket goes beyond champion players, and includes multiple life members of Bundaberg Cricket, including Matthew Tallon, Don’s brother the man who gave young Matthew his name.
Cranley Family – Gympie
A world class BMX rider is supporting his young family to follow their own competitive goals alongside supporting the growth of dozens of young riders in the Cooloola region.
Leon Cranley, who at age 16 was ranked sixth in the world in the demanding sport of BMX, is continuing his sporting career alongside daughters Lexi and Charlie.
The family are preparing for the Australian titles in October 2024, a journey that will take them across the country to Perth.
Under the guidance of their father, the girls are aiming to take out the titles at the event, on top of ongoing engagements as equestrian athletes.
Despite a severe injury putting his sporting goals on hold three years ago, Leon has been supporting his family in the sport and coaching at the Cooloola BMX Club where he spends most of his spare time maintaining the grounds.
He first found a love for the sport at a young age, and alongside his sisters Gina and Theresa, quickly began competing at a high level powered by the support of his parents.
He has passed the support on to his daughters and said watching them grow as athletes has been a key point of pride.
“It brings a tear to my eye, they just try their heart out, they try their hardest,” he said.
Cobbo Family – Cherbourg
Anyone who has watched a Broncos’ game in the past few years will recognise the Cobbo name, emblazoned on the jersey of young winger, Selwyn Cobbo, one of Cherbourg’s legendary sporting exports.
The young athlete first made his appearance for the club in 2021, and since has rocketed to stardom in the Queensland Maroons jersey in 2022.
Despite his impressive sporting career as a rugby league player, the legacy of his family can be traced to Queensland cricket icon Eddie Gilbert, who is Cobbo’s great great grandfather.
Gilbert was known for his own impressive athletic prowess, including famously dismissing Don Bradman for a duck in a Sheffield Shield game at the Gabba in 1931.
Speaking in 2023 on Selwyn’s rise to stardom, his father Shamus Cobbo discussed the enduring legacy of Gilbert and what the family’s shared successes meant for young Indigenous athletes.
“I can’t put into words what he is achieving for Indigenous kids out here in the bush. Just his encouragement,” he said.
“Kids say they want to be like Selwyn Cobbo. The attendance numbers at school are higher because kids want to do what Selwyn is doing.”
Davis Family – Bundaberg
Sharing its name with a premier league English soccer club, the Brother’s Aston Villa club has a long and storied history within the Bundaberg region, largely thanks to the work of the Davis family.
In the hopes of bringing an English heritage connection to his Welcome Creek community, Les Davis founded the Bundaberg Aston Villa club in 1967.
The name was an ode to the Birmingham premier league team from whom he sought approval for the club colours, logo and name upon founding.
Over the years, Les continued his connection with the Bundaberg club through playing, supporting, coaching and encouraging multiple generations of athletes including his own family.
Niece Kayleen Bryan spoke on the decades long connection the family built alongside the club, with has continued through her son Matthew and her grandsons, supported by her role as secretary.
“They always say we’ve got claret and blue running through our veins,” she said.
“I’ve got clippings at home from old newspapers which say the ‘Davis boys have done it again,’ we’ve built so many friendships through the club.”
Despite becoming connected with the Brother’s Sports Club in 1993, Aston Villa has retained an independent identity and in 2017 was officially affiliated with the English Aston Villa club as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.
Oberhardt Family – Bundaberg
The Oberhardt family connection to the Bundaberg motorcycle community spans generations and decades, backed by endless hours of volunteer work and generosity.
Speaking on what drew the family to the Rum City Motorcycle Club, president Karl Oberhardt said it all began in the late 1980s when his father Bob offered him a watch or a motorbike for his birthday.
“I chose the bike and discovered I really enjoyed riding motorbikes,” Karl said.
After joining the club to encourage the love for riding, the family's commitment grew and in 1991 Bob was welcomed as club president.
The presidency continued until 1995 when Karl sustained an injury which severed the family from the sport.
In 1998, the family returned, with Karl taking on a committee role and Bob returning to the president position in 1999.
In 2019, Karl took over the hallowed presidency role, with the vision of continuing his father’s legacy who had stepped down several years earlier, while continuing to ride alongside his son.
Speaking on the determination and commitment of the Oberhardt family, club secretary Nikki Arnold said the club would not have continued without their support.
“In the past 12 months many clubs across Queensland have failed to fill committee positions, some clubs have had emergency meetings once or twice to fill positions, some clubs have folded,” she said.
“For our club to have continued for so long it is an absolute testament to the Oberhardt family, their passion to continue the club for our local community is without doubt one of the main reasons we are still in operation.”
Christensen Family – Booyal
The fourth generation of the Christensen family tree can be seen competing across the state, in both the equestrian and woodchopping ring, carrying an athletic drive passed down by their grandfather.
Booyal man Wally Christensen was known as a skilled horseman, a trait he similarly passed down to his son Reginald.
When Reginald married his wife Elva in 1988, that trait would be continued through to their children Ashlee and Amanda.
Over the decades, Elva, Reg, Ashlee and Amanda would become synonymous with the competitive equestrian community, not only in the show horse ring, the show jumping ring but also the campdraft arena.
Alone, Elva’s list of achievements are near endless, from numerous National Show Horse titles, Hack of the Year, Galloway of the Year, and Royal Show wins and placings.
Her daughters have competed at the same level, both amassing National, State and Royal wins and awards backed by the support of their parents.
Beyond their own achievements, both Elva and Ashlee have coached dozens of successful riders to a state and national level, while training horses to be some of the most in demand in the state.
As Amanda’s own children enter the competitive ring, following in their mother’s footsteps with horses, and their father’s woodchopping footsteps, the legacy of the Christensen family continues.
“I get very emotional speaking about family,” Elva said.
“It’s lovely that the family that the sport has continued on to be a legacy in the equestrian world, I’d hate to see us lose that.”
Zunker Family – Bundaberg
The Zunker’s family history with the sport of rowing spans more than a century, with endless impressive achievements listed among the family over the years.
As former State Rowing Champion Katrina Zunker commented on the history of the family, which began in 1910, with JH Zunker who joined the Bundaberg Rowing Club at aged 18.
The family’s legacy stemming from that fateful day includes multiple state and national podium finishes including several Kings Cup Regatta wins and placings.
The two page rowing history listed in the family tree memorial book ends with Katrina, who in 1993, was named Rower of the Year, coached by her father’s cousin Laurie Zunker.
However, the legacy continues through Katrina to her daughter Cianna Zunker, who is the family’s up-and-coming athlete.
“The Zunkers in rowing are very passionate about the sport and my daughter who is currently rowing is also very passionate about rowing so the sport continues throughout our family,” she said.
“I am still coaching and my daughter Cianna Zunker is a new upcoming rower.”
Brillante Family – Bundaberg
With an international soccer career that has spanned multiple continents, Josh Brillante is one of the Wide Bay Burnett’s standout sporting exports.
The soccer player who currently holds a two-year contract with the Western City Wanderers has donned the green and gold most recently for the 2018 World Cup, which took place in Russia.
In his youth, the athlete played for the Across the Waves, Bundaberg Spirit, Queensland Academy of Sport Men’s Football Program and Gold Coast United.
Josh’s father John Brillante spoke on the family’s commitment to the sport, and how that fostered Josh’s incredible athletic achievements.
“I was lucky to have everyone continue on playing the same sport, being involved in the same sport and from there one of them has achieved their goal which was to play professional football,” he said.
The family’s connection to the Across the Waves club spans decades, after Josh’s grandfather Mario joined the club filling many roles over the years and fostering John’s athletic career with included state representative titles.
The competitive family tree has expanded with Lino Brillante coaching hand guiding his three children Sam, Luca and Liliana through the club.
“In addition to Sam and Luca playing representative football for Wide Bay, Liliana Brillante has played representative football for Wide Bay and was named as a Shadow for the 2023 U14 Queensland Girls Football Team last year and was asked to represent Queensland and play with the Northern Territory Team at the Girls National Youth Championships in Wollongong in October 2023,” Wendy Brillante said.
The commitment to the club continues to this day, with John coaching both junior and senior teams over the years alongside coaching his children Bridget, Jack, Jacob and Josh who all played at a representative level.
The life member of the Across the Waves club said he was honoured to see the family’s legacy with the club continue through Josh, who makes a regular return to the local grounds to offer coaching guidance.
“We’re obviously very proud of all the achievements that they’ve made,” Mr Brillante said.
Warren Family – Gympie
Driving through the heart of Gympie, it’s hard to miss the legacy and impact of the Warren family on local sport.
In 2018, the former Six Mile Oval was formally changed to the Ray Warren Oval, in honour of a beloved local who has lived and breathed AFL.
The grounds, named after the Gympie Cats’ legend, has hosted generations of Warrens, including former Cats player Dean Warren and his nephew Joel Perry-Warren.
In 2010, Joel was selected in the under-12 schoolboys Queensland representative side to play in national competition in Perth, following in the impressive footsteps of his iconic family.
Dean’s own list of achievements with the game are endless and in 2010, he was appointed General Manager of Football operations for the Brisbane Lions.
The Warren family’s impressive connection to AFL goes beyond hallowed local grounds, and over the years family members Ray, Helen, Dean and brother Glenn have just this year been inducted into the Sunshine Coast Football Hall of Fame.
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