50+ NAMES: Ipswich’s most influential sports personalities shaping the region
In honour of Ipswich renowned sporting talents see our list of 58 notables from the grassroots right up to the world stage who are changing the landscape of the region for the better.
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The Ipswich region has been growing influential athletes since its history began and the next generation of stars are keeping the tradition well and truly alive.
From grassroots clubs to coaches and presidents, here’s but a few (58) Ipswich sporting legends who are doing great things across the region and world.
YOUNG GUNS
Shaylen Lowe
Brassall archer Shaylen broke an Australian record at the 3DAAA Queensland Championship.
At the state 2021 competition, the young shooter had two perfect scores, and a final score of 298/300 – smashing the Australian record.
Although her sights may be set on becoming a marine biologist, the talented shooter also hopes to move to the US and obtain an Archery Scholarship to further her sporting career.
Bridey Condren
Jet’s goal keeper and defence gun Bridey Condren has been one of the Jets most reliable performers on the netball court.
The talented 22-year-old now plays for Sunshine Coast Lightning and already made her Suncorp Super Netball debut in 2020 for West Coast Fever.
Condren has had a passion for the sport since the age of seven and doesn’t let her studies at University of Queensland hold her back from competing.
Although, she said is unsure about her career path in the medical industry.
“I haven’t really decided yet,’’ Condren said.
“It depends on how netball pans out and all that.’’
Jordyn Holzberger
Based in Yamanto, Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School alumni Jordyn Holsberger has 63 international appearances for the Hockeyroos.
The inspiring athlete is one of Ipswich’s most successful hockey players and has been involved in national teams at open and under-21 level.
She was a silver medal winner in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Allira Toby
The sky’s the limit for professional soccer player from Brassall Allira Toby, who has played alongside Australia’s best in the W-League.
From 2016 to 2020 Toby was the only Indigenous player on the Roar’s W-League roster and is determined for more Indigenous players to follow in her footsteps.
While playing for Brisbane Roar in 2017-2018, the national star won a W-League grand final and was twice awarded the club’s golden boot.
Darcy Smith
Bundamba cricketer and mentor Darcy Smith, 13, exhibits extraordinary bowling and batting talent for such a young player.
Smith scored a spot in the Stormers under-12 state team in 2021 and played an impressive season at his local club where he had the highest run scorer for his age group (532).
The Bundamba Strollers team captain also took out the batting aggregate for the 2021 Cricket Ipswich competition.
2022 proved to be an exciting year for Bellbird Park all-rounder Jeriah Vagana after signing a two-year contract with the Gold Coast Titans.
The former Ipswich Jets player is a force of nature across many sports including, athletics, rugby union, rugby league and tag.
In 2021, Vagana was nominated to attend the Western Ranges Track and Field trials and received a full scholarship and rugby league scholarship at Ipswich State High.
Mollie O’Callaghan
Mollie O’Callaghan, 18, had the St Peters Lutheran College in an uproar when she swam for Australia at last year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.
The baby of the Dolphins, O’Callaghan helped Australia win two relay gold medals and a relay bronze medal.
Quietly spoken, she is another humble champion who loves nothing more than just blending into the crowd.
Tenealle Fasala
The Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School alumni, 19, is a water polo superstar who in the last six weeks made her international debut for Australia in Peru.
Fasala then helped the unbeaten Queensland Thunder women’s water polo side claim the national league.
She maintains a remarkable family tradition of representing Australia – as her mum and dad both swam for their country.
Sabbath Smrecnik
Three-time international Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Pan Pacific champion Sabbath Smrecnik, 18, has a number of titles under his belt.
The tenacious and determined fighter has trained for more than 10 years and has taken out a number of state, national, and international wins.
At just 16, the assistant instructor at Infinity Martial Arts Springfield competed in the adult division and won two gold medals.
Despite his commitment to training, the young athlete had excelled at school and devoted countless hours to help raise money for local charity events.
Jude Thomas
Thomas, a St Edmund’s College old boy, would have to be the most well-known face on the streets of Ipswich.
The 2021 World Junior Championship Aussie merit team selection is a gun 10,000m, 5000m and 3000m runner who trains up hill and down dale, running the streets of Ipswich.
He knows the lanes, the backblocks, and main roads like the back of his hand as he chases his dream of representing Australia.
Zac Profke
Rising Ipswich hockey player Zac Profke was promoted to the Australian under-21 hockey team in 2021.
The dedicated and talented young sportsman was given the opportunity to play at a higher level after he was chosen to join the prestigious Australian Burras seven-day training camp.
The former St Edmund’s College student has sights set on becoming an elite Australian Kookaburras player.
Charlize Goody
Ipswich and District Athletic Club record breaker Charlize Goody is at the top of her game after being crowned the national under-16 heptathlon champion in 2021.
At the 2020 Queensland championships Goody smashed the competition, winning gold, silver and five bronze medals.
When she’s not smashing personal bests, Goody mentors young athletes at the Ipswich and District Athletic Club and Ipswich Little Athletics Centre.
Josiah Pahulu
The Ipswich SHS rugby league prop was a proud community leader among his peers. “I think it’s important to show leadership within, not only the team but also throughout the school,’’ said Pahulu, who made our 2021 Langer Trophy Team of the Year.
“I want to be a leader for those around us, and those emerging.
“Showing leadership can encourage others to do better in school but most importantly life,’’ added the Gold Coast Titans signed player.
Phillip Sami
It not every day a kid from Ipswich plays State of Origin. The Gold Coast Titans outside back represented his state in one match of the extraordinary 2020 season when Wayne Bennett plotted an upset for the ages. Whether he plays again is anybody’s guess, but no one can ever take thet jersey off him, or measure the impact he had on young boys and girls from our city who dare to dream.
BEHIND THE SCENE GREATS
Margret Mantell
Ipswich Hockey Association secretary and former president Margret Mantell has been a strong ambassador for regional and state hockey.
Mantell’s dedication to the club resulted in a stronger committee who were better equipped to handle the immense workload of running a successful club.
Tracey Jeanes-Fraser
Tracey Jeanes-Fraser was one of the finest coaches in the city.
Every year the local product ensured the Jets Sapphire and Ruby Series teams made finals, quickly becoming one of Queensland’s most successful coaches.
With decades of experience under her belt the coach, she was not afraid to think outside the box and make sure he teams body and minds are running well.
Jeanes-Fraser said having her players in the right mindset was something she firmly believes in.
“Sometimes when you’ve got a really good team, you’ve got to look outside the box and see what other elements may be brought in,” she said.
“They know how to play netball but there’s those crucial pressure point moments where we do tend to lose our heads a little bit.’’
Brady Walmsley
Ipswich Basketball Association Inc’s general manager Brady Walmsley stepped into to vital role in 2021 after serving as a well-respected and talented coach.
Although Walmsley’s vast talent, leadership qualities, and versatilities saw him rise quickly through the ranks since moving to Ipswich in late 2020.
Walmsley has worked across elite levels of the sport and was the previous heap coach for the Queensland senior level Port City Power Men and the Townsville Flames Women.
Walmsley has worked on actively expanding basketball’s reach into growth areas like Ripley and said he’s keen to be working in a fast paced role at the club.
“One of the advantages that I’ve been selling as part of the process is the opportunity to hit the ground running,’’ he said.
“To move things forward without skipping too much of a beat.
“I’m right into the thick of it straight away, which is good.”
Pat Boyle
Western Pride Football Club general manager Pat Boyle steered the club through one of its most difficult times – the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rather than squandering the downtime and have players get rusty, the club used the extra off time and technology to refresh and heal players.
The former footballer and World Cup winning indoor cricketer said the club came back stronger after using the time wisely – like online rehab and pilates sessions.
As one of the region’s most loyal and dedicated officials with a decade in the role, Boyle has been instrumental in progressing football in the region is inspiring the next generation.
Boyle has spent countless hours in developing junior’s and senior’s skills in both men’s and women’s football.
Bec Ungermann
An absolute powerhouse of a sportswoman and all-round inspiring human being, Bec Ungermann has dedicated an incomprehensible amount of time to coaching, training, and motivating Ipswich’s next generation of sporting stars.
Booval’s Ungermann has represented Australia on the world stage five times from triathlons to ironman competitions.
On a local level, the 2021 Ipswich Coach of the year coaches triathlon at her BOSS Multisport Club, cross country/triathlon at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar and Masters Swim Squad at Bundamba pool.
When she isn’t busy training future stars, Ungermann is a podiatrist with Health Queensland which is an expertise that make her one of the region’s best all-round coaches.
Karley Bryce
Ipswich BMX Club president Karley Bryce has been instrumental in the clubs sporting success.
The track at Willey Park has been lauded as one of the best in the state.
Karley Bryce over saw the one of the sates largest championships world-class BMX competitions in 2021.
The successful event, AusCycling BMX State Championships, bought in close to 2000 spectators on the race day.
Working tirelessly to ensure the club’s success, Bryce said she was easily one of Ipswich most proud sporting presidents.
June Nicholls
Ipswich’s 2021 Volunteer of the Year June Nicholls was vital to the Ipswich Hockey club’s resurrection during the pandemic and ensuring player’s safety.
The Covid co-ordinator was responsible for the massive task of implementing and keeping up with the ver changing Covid-19 rules in the height of the pandemic so that everyone could get back to doing what they love.
She has been on the executive committee for more than 10 years, having also been president of the Ipswich Women’s Masters Committee. June is president of the Vets Hockey Club.
The long standing executive committee member, selector, coach, and state masters player, was also the president of the Vets Hockey Club.
Anne O’Donnell
The Ipswich Eagles AFC is the premier senior Australian football Club for the Ipswich and West Moreton region, and it’s success can be partly attributed to player and volunteer Anne O’Donnell.
From finances, canteen work, and team management the all-rounder has long been dedicated to her club and team members.
Ipswich Eagles president Clint Bateman said without O’Donnell the club “would struggle’’.
“I have had to pull Anne aside a few times to tell her to have a break as I was afraid she would burn out,’’ Bateman said.
“The work that Anne has done for our club is absolutely amazing and she is fully deserving of (her 2021 volunteer) award.’’
Sara Rogers
Hockey gun, personal trainer and inspirational coach Sara Rogers has been long contributed to the growth of Ipswich’s incredibly talented spots scene.
Sara has played for, umpired and taken on coaching rolls for the Hancock Brothers Hockey Club.
Before getting involved at fostering at a grassroots level, she played A-Grade across SEQ, captained successful teams, competed in state and nation teams, and a Hockey Queensland’s Association Coach of the Year Award.
Belinda Kitching
Belinda Kitching grew up in a busy double storey house in Bundamba, and later excelled as Australia’s leading soccer goalkeeper for many years.
Kitching represented Australia an impressive 34 times, and formerly coached Western Pride.
Kierran Moseley
The former Jets hooker Kierran Moseley is deadly on and off the footy field, spending time as a youth worker to help the next generation navigate life in a healthy way. Through his role at Deadly Choices Moseley shares his life experience with teens in hopes to have a lasting impact on their lifestyle choices in a bid to put a dent in harmful behaviours.
INSPIRATIONAL TALENTS
Ali Brigginshaw
The best player in the NRLW, Brigginshaw has been an inspiration to an army of young women in Ipswich who have ever wondered “what if’’ when it came to play rugby league – and sport in general.
The daughter of former champion halfback Larry, Ali has been a Broncos and Queensland star who has helped clear a pathway for young girls to play the code.
As a Broncos ambassadors, Brigginshaw travels across the state to ensure Indigenous students know the power of their voice and how to use it in one-on-one sessions.
The star set out to inspire the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to help them kick their academic goals.
“Education is one of the most important tools (they) can have, and the benefits of higher education is endless,” Brigginshaw said.
“An important part of the program is embedding pride in their culture and having role models that they can look up to and inspire them to take positive steps towards their future.”
Matt Hodgson
Born and raised in Booval, and attending Ipswich Grammar School, the commanding 211cm basketballer has gathered quite the resume since graduating Ipswich Grammar School in 2008.
The veteran centre played four years of college basketball in America, two for Southern Utah and two for Saint Mary’s where he graduated from.
He played for the NBL’s Adelaide 36ers, Brisbane Bullets, and representing the Australian Basketball Team along the way.
Hodgson is now signed with Perth Wildcats where he recorded 14 points and four rebounds in their 106-87 win over the Cairns Taipans this month.
James Stannard
Rugby product of St Edmund’s College in Ipswich, Stannard has done so much for Australian rugby across several codes.
He has played for the Western Force and the Brumbies in the Super Rugby, although he is better known for his Australian seven-a-side career where he was the Player of the Year recipient.
Rod Davies
The Ipswich Grammar School old boy was nicknamed Rocket for his punishing pace, having clocked 100m in 10.8 seconds.
The rugby speedster was a phenom throughout his 58 game tenure with the Queensland Reds from 2009-2014, winning the Super Rugby Championship in 2011.
Davies went on to play in the Australian 7’s team.
Berrick Barnes
A brilliant schoolboy cricketer, Barnes is one of the finest sporting talents to come out of Ipswich Grammar School.
Also a star league player, Barnes made his rugby union international debut aged 21 at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Heath and Ella Ramsay
Heath Ramsay is an Olympic swimmer and a very well known face in the Ipswich community.
However his legacy is only beginning as his daughter Ella, a student at St Peters Lutheran College, has been the most successful All Ages swimmer in Australia for several years.
The up and coming Ipswich star is aiming for senior Australian selection sometime in the next two years.
Grant Sorensen
Sorensen was part of the Australia men’s national volleyball team at the 2002 World Championship and played at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Ipswich born, he was a giant for the Queensland Pirates.
Melissa Bulow
Melissa was a classy right handed batter who was born in Ipswich and was Queensland’s all-time leading female run scorer and most capped Queensland player when she retired.
Bulow has been instrumental for the regions cricket history as the Melissa Bulow Cup continues to run in her legacy.
The cup hosts some of the state’s most talented young female cricketers.
David Fifita
Fifita is now a NRL star and a State of Origin wrecking ball, but there was no doubt he’d succeed with his gritty determination even as a schoolboy.
The Redbank Plains junior would rise before the sun to catch a train to Robina on the Gold Coast where he would then travel to nearby Keebra Park State High to attend school and train for the Langer Trophy.
He showed dreams do come true – but only if accompanied by iron fisted commitment.
Sam Walker
Walker was raised in Ipswich, played his junior rugby league for the North Ipswich Tigers and attended Ipswich Grammar School.
The 2019 Ipswich Jets halfback now stars at the Sydney Roosters after making his debut last season aged 18.
Watch out for the 2021 Dally M Rookie of the Year as he may represent Queensland in State of Origin.
Ronaldo Mulitalo
The tightly knit Ipswich State High community is as proud as punch to call Mulitalo one of their own.
As a Springfield Panthers and former ISHS Langer Trophy player, Mulitalo now plays in the NRL for Cronulla Sharks.
Sadly, Mulitalo was named in the Queensland Origin side last year only to be scratched by the ARL after remarkably being ruled ineligible.
Mark Steketee
Another Ipswich Grammar School old boy, Sketee is a swing bowler young gun who this summer broke into the Australian cricket touring squad.
Steketee follows in a proud tradition of successful sporting identities with a rich Ipswich connection.
Kate Lutkins
Lance Corporal Kate Lutkins puts her body on the line on and off the field serving for the 7th service combat support battalion.
Lutkins was the AFLW’s best on ground for the Brisbane Lions grand final Brisbane Lions. The West Moreton Anglican College alumni is a dogged field defender who can create openings for her teammates.
Lutkins is the full package helping young women realise their potential when it comes to toughing it out on the field.
Luke Keary
Two-time NRL premiership winner, Luke Keary, was born and raised in Raceview, Ipswich and attended St. Mary’s Primary School.
He played junior rugby league for Ipswich Brothers, and now has 163 NRL appearances under his belt at the Sydney Roosters.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said having Keary on board for 2022 may be the difference between the club winning or losing the club’s third title.
Andrew Campbell
Andrew Campbell, an Ipswich Musketeers junior /senior player, and St Edmund’s College old boy, is now being considered a future Olympic hopeful in Baseball.
Campbell is in the Australian baseball squad, having played for the Brisbane Bandits for nine seasons, as well as a few stints overseas in America and Germany.
Leah Neale
Leah worked tirelessly at the CYMS-St Edmund’s club while making QLD and Australian teams on her way to becoming a silver medallist at the Rio Olympics.
Sharing in this 4x200m freestyle relay to win silver at the Olympics was a magical moment for herself and for Ipswich. Leah was Ipswich’s 2016 Sportsman of the Year.
Deborah Acason
Ipswich’s Deborah Acason is Australia’s most successful international women’s competitor in weightlifting, having contested in five Commonwealth Games.
She has won gold, medal and silver medals and is now heavily involved in coaching and helping young people pursue their sporting ambitions.
Acason’s advice to up and coming athletes is – go hard.
“Do the hard work. Nothing happens unless you are willing to put the time and effort into what you want to achieve. Determination, perseverance and humility are excellent qualities to strive to have,” she said.
Kym Jaenke
Jaenke is a world champion triathlete from Ipswich, winning her division in Canada in 2008, and her Ironman age group at the Las Vegas World Championships in 2013.
The gritty Ipswich client manager displayed mental toughness spending years training on her bike, in the pool and tackling the hills running around Limestone Park and battling freezing swims around the world.
IPSWICH’S SPORTING ROYALTY
Ash Barty
As one of Australia’s greatest tennis players of all time, Ash Barty embodies the grit, determination, and humble beginnings of many Ipswich players, and is set to inspire many generations to come.
The humble champion rose from Woodcrest State College, Springfield, to be the world No. 1, the Wimbledon, French Open and Australian Open winner.
From a tiny tot at the West Brisbane Tennis Centre to conquering the world, Barty has inspired a generation with her on court achievements and her off court demeanour.
Allan Langer
The Brisbane Broncos, Queensland and Australian halfback champion from a working class family came through Ipswich State High to become arguably the Broncos’ greatest player ever.
The size of a jockey when he burst into A grade with the Ipswich Jets, Langer demonstrated to the community that size did not matter inspiring other underdogs that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
The Walters boys
Twins Kevin and Kerrod and older brother Steve became pin-up boys for a legion of young rugby league players who dared to dream.
Close friends of the Langer family, they all played for Australia, Queensland, and won NRL premierships.
Like tennis champion Barty, the knockout, down to earth boys also set a fine example off the field.
Paul McLean
McLean is one of the all-time great St Edmund’s College old boys.
The Wallaby and Queensland Reds great is an Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame inductee who played in 31 Tests and 100 games for Queensland.
The McLean Field at St Edmund’s and the McLean Stand at Ballymore are named after the McLean family, many of whom, like Paul, represented Australia.
Dud Beattie
They don’t come more Ipswich than Dud Beattie who, along with Noel Kelly and Gary Parcell (see below), helped Ipswich dominate the Bulimba Cup during the 1950s and 1960s.
The rugby trio were once all selected for the Australian, one of the great highlights in the history of sport in Ipswich.
He also played 19 games for Queensland and 15 Tests.
Des and Rod Morris
The Ipswich raised Des and Rod Morris brothers were rugby league giants.
Rod played front row and Des second row and together they helped Brisbane Easts to four premierships in the 1980s.
Rod played Test football and State of Origin, while older brother Des coached Queensland and was a long serving selector.
Scott Notley
1995 Ipswich Sportsman of the year, Australian touch football Hall of Farmer, and Australia’s most capped touch player, Scott Notley has had a phenomenal career.
After becoming national skipper in 1991, Bundamba’s own enjoyed successes for Queensland and Australia.’
He represented Australia 61 times, featuring 44 World Cup games and 17 Test match appearances.
Peter Vogler
Vogler was arguably Ipswich’s most feared sportsmen during his many years representing Ipswich in his 400 national league games, for Queensland and Australia in Baseball.
Vogler represented Australia at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the Atlanta Games in 1996.
Peter was Ipswich’s sports-star of the Year for 1992-93, and was inducted into the Australian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Noel Kelly
Iron fisted with an iron will, rugby league player Noel Kelly was named hooker in Australia’s greatest ever rugby league side.
He was a Queensland star pinched by the Wests Magpies in the NSWRL, leading to him playing and living south of the border.
He will forever remain an Ipswich icon.
Gary Parcell
From row teammates of Noel Kelly and Due Beattie, Parcell played eight tests for Australia and 14 games for Queensland from 1956-62 while never leaving Ipswich – such was his loyalty to the city and the people.
Shane Watson
‘Watto’ is an Ipswich Grammar School old boy from 1998, who is still giving back to their Cricket Program with online coaching sessions.
Infamous for his Brut deodorant commercial and sending Leg before wicket dismissals upstairs, Watson is one of the most influential white ball all-rounders in this era.
He was also a Sheffield Shield winner with Queensland Bulls, an absolutely elite batsman who can bat No. 1 to No. 6 – while bowling an outstanding and nagging swing.
Tammy Cole
Cole was one of Ipswich’s leading all-rounders representing Australia in hockey and
indoor cricket.
She also made an Australian rugby league squad and state vigoro team, highlighting her diverse talents.
She had a reputation for her tenacity and determination, and proudly represented Ipswich in whatever sport she pursued.
Craig McDermott
As one of Queensland’s legendary fast bowlers, McDermott would terrify opposing teams when he’d push off the site screen on his way into bowling thunderbolts.
Nick-named Billy the Kid, he took 291 wickets for Australia – a third of which came when the national side was struggling during a rebuilding phase.
Roy Emerson
You know you are a big name in sport when you get a tennis centre named after you.
The Hall of Fame inductee Emerson won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam doubles titles in a stellar career.
Denis Flannery
If you named Queensland’s top 50 players of all-time, the chances are Flannery would be on the list.
Born in Raceview, the St Edmund’s College old boy was a wing sensation who played 27 times for Queensland and 15 Tests.
Gary Coyne
Coyne was a blue collar rugby league workhorse who was the glue in all-star Canberra Raiders teams in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
He played 171 matches for the Raiders who remain one of the top club sides in the hsitory of the code.
But the hard working second rower or prop also played in 11 State of Origins and Queensland and in four Tests for his country.
He was not flashy, nor was he big or fast, but he gave hope to a generation of young league players that if you work hard, then you can find a place in even the best of NRL rugby league teams.
Steve Hinton
Steve was a classy Baseball player who represented Australia while remaining loyal to the Ipswich Musketeers and Brisbane Bandits, where he spent a decade in the ABL competition.
Hinton represented Australia at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, knocking back offers from US clubs to represent his country.
Hinton, the heart and soul for every team he played for, was inducted into the Queensland Baseball HOF in 2006.
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