17 Mackay families shaping sport for generations
From footy to netball, these 17 families have had or are having an indelible impact on Mackay sport. Read the list of the most influential.
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Within every community, there are special families who either through supreme talent or tireless dedication, greatly influence their sports.
There is an endless number of families that have helped shape or are shaping Mackay sport.
It would be impossible to name them all.
Here are some of the region’s most influential sporting families, in no particular order.
Bella
When discussing influential Mackay sporting families, it would be a challenge to put anyone ahead of the Bella family.
Renowned for their rugby league exploits, originating with Queensland Origin star Martin Bella and his brothers Robert and Anthony Bella who played first grade for the South Queensland Crushers.
Today the women lead the Bella sporting dynasty with Lauren Bella viewed as one of the premier ruckman in the AFLW competition for the Gold Coast Suns and Emily Bella a developing halfback for the North Queensland Gold Stars.
Lauren has become a strong advocate for women’s sport in the region and the improvement of Mackay sporting facilities as a whole.
Lauren is one of the inaugural ambassadors for the Great Barrier Reef Arena, and flew to Mackay to help launch Harrup Park Country Club’s Stage 2 plans.
Ross Bella currently captains the Mackay Cutters.
Doolan
Doolan is a household name of Mackay Cricket with deep ties to the Pioneer Valley Cricket Club with both Carmel and Terry Doolan already holding life membership.
Both Matt and Peter Doolan remain heavily involved at the club with several Doolans also making up the playing ranks.
Mitch Doolan has left the nest for Brisbane where he currently plays premier cricket in Brisbane for the Northern Suburbs Cricket Club where he managed a batting average of 42.
Terry Doolan, currently Harrup Park Country Club chairman, is one of the driving forces behind the Great Barrier Reef Arena development which recently revealed its stage two plans
Zurvas
There were four Zurvas’ playing cricket for the Magpies last season with Benjamin and Liam finishing in first and second position in the club champion rankings.
Benjamin was the only local player to feature for Queensland Country in the Under-19 National Championships that Mackay Cricket recently hosted.
His dad Brad Zurvas is Magpies Cricket Club president and was awarded the Magpie of the Year award for his tireless dedication and commitment.
Barba
At his peak Ben Barba was a Dally M medallist which makes it pretty incredible that some locals believe his brother Aaron was just as talented and destined to reach the very top of rugby league had he been more committed.
Their youngest brother Marmin was contracted with the Gold Coast Titans and won an NRL State Championship with the Ipswich Jets.
The Barba brothers follow a footballing history that dates back to their grandfather Bevan Barba.
After the NRL banned Ben indefinitely in February 2019, he played a season of soccer with the Mackay Rangers and two seasons of AFL with the Eastern Swans.
In his second season for the Swans he kicked 63 goals to lead the competition’s goal kicking, proving his raw skill with the ball on the field.
Ramsay
A bit of a left field selection for influential sporting families category but the Ramsay McDonald’s empire sponsors a pool of local sporting clubs and organisations.
Headed by Niki Ramsay, Mackay McDonald’s is currently the naming rights sponsor of the Mackay Meteors and Meteorettes, and sponsors various teams and codes including the Mackay Multi-Sports Stadium, the Brothers Bulldogs Rugby League, Mackay Hockey and AFLW Mackay.
The significant investment in sport provides valuable funds to help deliver facilities and equipment for the local community.
Irelandes
The Irelandes have been a household name in the region’s rugby league for several decades with Richard Irelandes a well respected figure across the code.
Today, a new generation represents the name.
Tom earned his long-awaited debut for the Cutters at the start of this season after a frustrating string of injuries.
He was a dominant player as he made his way up the junior ranks.
Keegan is a star of the women’s competition where she plays as a fullback for Brothers.
Downes
A life member of AFL Mackay, Gary Downes is a revered figure throughout the competition for his involvement spanning more than 40 years.
Downes has played in the league, coached several clubs and the region’s Gold Coast Suns Academy, as well as serving a period as AFL Mackay president.
Downes currently coaches the Mackay Magpies.
His late father Bob Downes was made a life member of AFL Mackay in 1981.
Bob was also one of the original team members for the Mackay Rangers Football Club and is viewed as an integral early contributor for the now 50-year-old Rangers.
Kohler
The Kohler brothers Lane and Mason have made several representative cricket teams over the years.
This year the pair was instrumental in the Norths’ First Grade Premiership.
Lane starred with the bat hitting 79 runs from only 71 deliveries, while Mason was the pick of the bowlers, bowling 10 overs for only 28 runs and picking up two vital wickets.
The side was coached by their dad Wayne, who also has multiple first grade premierships to his name as well as 273 matches, 3600 runs and 457 wickets.
Dyer
Another Norths cricketing family, the Dyers also had two players in the recent premiership win with Wes and Darryn.
Darryn was club champion of the Norths, while Wes hit a vital half century in the final.
Laren did not feature for the Norths in the 2021-22 season but served in an off-field capacity as the club’s treasurer.
He has played 48 matches to date and boasts a high score of 214 not out.
Bobongie
The Bobongie family is synonymous with sports success in Mackay with Jardine serving as Cutters captain sporadically over the last 15 years.
Today, the Bobongie family represents Mackay in a variety of sports with Monique, Denesha and Cheyenne playing basketball and Denzel playing football for the Magpies Crusaders.
At 13 years of age, Monique was the first Mackay player to reach the National Performance Program.
The late Curtis Bobongie was a talented rugby league and touch player.
His daughter Bianca was once Australia’s under-21 captain.
Manzelmann
Mackay’s greatest horse trainer/owner, John Manzelmann holds 1055 career wins since 1997 and more than $12m in prize money.
His dad, John ‘Ginger’ Manzelmann shares in some of his stable and is a well-known former harness racing trainer.
The Manzelmann name can be found across several of the region’s different sporting clubs and codes.
Emma debuted for the Newcastle Knights’s NRLW team in February and is considered a “breakout star” to watch this season.
Watts
Anyone with dealings in the Bowen Cricket Association would be fully aware of the Watts family.
Lee Watts has been described by some as the “keenest cricketer in Australia”, driving as much as 32 hours in a weekend to maximise his cricketing competition.
When he isn’t driving around the state chasing his cricketing dream, he helps run the Bowen Cricket Association, serving in a variety of roles to date.
Mum Joanne has also been a vital volunteer for the competition and major supporter of Lee’s career since he was a junior.
In the off-season, Lee helps coach the juniors at Bowen Hockey Club.
Kennell
There are a seemingly endless amount of Kennells that have played with the Magpies Crusaders.
Ezra and Isaiah Kennell have both played first team football in recent times while Malachi is considered a star of the future.
Henry Kennell has coached the senior team and currently leads the under-23 squad.
Belinda Kennell is well regarded within Football Queensland for her tireless work as a volunteer.
Rovelli
Playing his junior football with the South Mackay Sharks, Rovelli joined the New Zealand Warriors in 2006 where he played the majority of his NRL career.
He played his final two seasons in the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys, before returning to captain the Mackay Cutters throughout 2011 and 2012.
He then returned to his boyhood club and captained two successive premierships, narrowly missing a third alongside his brother Josh, who has enjoyed a successful career in Mackay.
Grant would go on to work at the Cutters as director of football under the leadership of his dad Troy as CEO.
Troy moved to Brisbane as CEO of the Norths Devils.
Wyer
The Wyer family founded the Brothers Netball Club in 1993 and shows no signs of slowing down after almost three decades.
Matriarch Bette Wyer has earned several accolades over the years for her work volunteering and working behind the scenes to keep the courts filled with young players.
She received a Mackay Regional Council Australia Day Award in 2015, a Netball Queensland gong the same year and various club and code awards and recognition.
Netball runs in the family genes with daughter Melissa Ferrier continuing in her mother’s line of sporting work and leading the Brothers Netball Club across all age groups.
She is more regularly seen on the court – both indoors and outdoors – and ratcheting up several firsts for Mackay including a male player in the junior levels.
Ferrier opened her own clinic, Sports Health and Massage, and has become the go-to professional masseuse for visiting professional sporting teams including the NRL and cricket.
Her daughters Amba and Paige have played pivotal roles in developing younger players through coaching the early age groups, and playing in the senior women’s competition themselves.
Breckell
Recently awarded Mackay Regional Council’s Senior Sports Award, Chris Breckell has been a vital contributor for touch football over many years with the help of his family.
He has served in several roles ranging from referee to vice president across Magpies Touch Football, Mackay Touch Association and North Queensland Touch.
Freeman
Arguably Mackay’s greatest ever athlete, Cathy Freeman’s feats inspired a generation of Australians.
Her influence is recognised locally at Slade Point’s Cathy Freeman Park.
Cathy’s late brother Norman was a talented young athlete, excelling in rugby league.
Along with his sister, Norman’s athletic ability was renowned around Mackay.
Get in touch
Has a Mackay family inspired your sport, or is there someone you feel should be included in the list?
We want to know. Send us an email at mackay@news.com.au with the name and how they have influenced Mackay sport, and we will include them in the list.
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