POWER 100: Sunshine Coast's 13 most powerful families

As we countdown to the 2018 instalment of Power 100, we can reveal the Sunshine Coast's 13 most powerful families.

THEY'RE some of the foundations of the region, community pillars who have shaped the Coast in multiple ways.

A number of families feature in this year's Power 100 after another active 12 months.

Here's a look at 13 of the region's most powerful families:

Peter and John Shadforth.

SHADFORTH FAMILY

BROTHERS Peter and John Shadforth founded a civil contracting firm to build water pipelines in North Queensland in 1964.

Fast forward 54 years and they employ more than 500 staff and are undertaking civil works on some of the region's largest projects, including the new Maroochydore CBD, Caloundra South, Harmony at Palmview and more.

Justice campaigners Bruce and Denise Morcombe at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

MORCOMBE FAMILY

BRUCE and Denise Morcombe were crowned number one in the inaugural Power 100 list in 2017 for their tireless efforts to improve child safety following the abduction and murder of their son Daniel, in December 2003.

The Morcombe family overcame their tragic loss, becoming pillars of strength and inspiration to many, as they turned their heartache into a force for good.

Rod and Jan Forrester at Hall Contracting's 70th birthday celebrations at The Lakehouse, Mountain Creek. Picture: Erle Levey

FORRESTER FAMILY

ROD and Jan Forrester have built businesses and buildings from the ground up and have provided opportunities for University of the Sunshine Coast business students since 2001.

Rod was a managing director of FKP until 2003 and remained a director until 2008, overseeing major property developments, before Rod and Jan became major investors in ARIA Property Group, a development firm established by their children.

Rod has been a member of a number of boards around the region including LifeFlight and the university.

Hall Contracting directors (l-r) Peter, Cameron and Brian Hall. Picture: Contributed

HALL FAMILY

WHAT started out as a humble dredging, sand and gravel supply business in the 1940s has become an international civil contractor employing more than 220 staff.

The Hall family, with directors Peter, Cameron and Brian at the helm, have kept their Hall Contracting headquarters on the Coast and their firm has had a huge role in constructing the Pelican Waters canal development since 1990.

Mclean, left, pictured with his dad, Roy Henzell, and his nan, Judy Henzell, back in 2008. Picture: Brett Wortman/175373

HENZELL FAMILY

THE Henzell family name was first established on the Coast in 1935, when Roy Henzell opened up a real estate agency in Caloundra.

The family were the major developers of the Pelican Waters estate, which sold more than 3000 lots since 1990 and still had more than 2200 dwelling lots planned for its final stages.

The family real estate firm sold more than 19,000 homes in the past 80 years and has also donated large parcels of land to community sporting groups, including the Caloundra Cricket Club and Caloundra City Private School.

Robert Irwin, Terri Irwin, Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell celebrate Bindi's 20th Birthday at Australia Zoo.

IRWIN FAMILY

MORE than 12 years after Steve Irwin's death and his legacy continues to live on, with his family continuing to spread their conservation message globally.

The Irwin family have become one of the Sunshine Coast's most valuable tourism exports as well, with their profile drawing masses of international visitors to our shores each year.

Their profile continues to rise with new television series Crikey! It's the Irwins to be screened on Animal Planet.

Garry Crick (second from left) is a household name in Coast motoring. Picture: Warren Lynam

CRICK FAMILY

THE Crick family has become synonymous with motoring on the Sunshine Coast since director Garry Crick founded the company in 1995.

With 12 dealerships and 27 new car brands represented, chances are if you've bought a car on the Coast it's been through Cricks.

The Crick family have been major donors to charities during their time doing deals across the Coast.

Jett Kenny and Grant Kenny. Picture: Patrick Woods

KENNY FAMILY

SURF life saving royalty, the Kenny name continues to reverberate around the region.

Grant is still a fixture in local life saving circles and Jett is establishing himself as an elite ironman talent and a future star of television screens while Grant's ex-wife Lisa Curry continues to inspire thousands with her weight loss advice.

The Dixson family launched Jade's Legacy after she died in a car crash. Picture: Warren Lynam

DIXSON FAMILY

TRAGEDY tore through the Dixson family in late March when Jade, 17, was killed in a horror car crash at Perwillowen.

The talented soccer player's death brought hundreds of people together as the community celebrated her life.

Her family opted against anger, instead reaching out to the teenage driver of the car before embarking on a passionate road safety campaign to try and provide compulsory defensive driver training to school children.

Bill amd Lori Freeman's 35th Wedding Anniversary and Bills 60th Birthday party family gathering, L-R Hayley, Adam, Bill, Tim and Lori.

FREEMAN FAMILY

PROMINENT property developer and businessman Bill Freeman has been a powerful figure on the Sunshine Coast for decades.

Freeman has been a supporter of the RACQ LifeFlight service for more than 40 years as well as other community, sporting and surf life saving groups.

Mr Freeman and his wife Lorena have also been long-time supporters of the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Opening of the new Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience - Thompson Institute at Birtinya. Roy and Nola Thompson have purchased the building for the Institute. Picture: Patrick Woods

THOMPSON FAMILY

ROY and Nola Thompson can't stop giving to the Sunshine Coast.

Roy, a former publican and property developer, and wife Nola have donated tens of millions to various organisations.

They've been prominent donors to the University of the Sunshine Coast and huge supporters of mental health research, donating the $7 million building which now houses the Sunshine Coast Mind and Neuroscience Thompson Institute at Birtinya.

CLUB MOVE: Noosa Heads star lifesaver Jordan Mercer with her father and club head coach Darren. Picture: Contributed

MERCER FAMILY

A FAMILY name which has almost transcended the sport of surf lifesaving, the Mercers continue to make their mark.

Noosa Heads-based head coach Darren continues to produce superstars, with Lana Rogers claiming the national ironwoman title and his daughter, Jordan, a constant threat in the sport.

Graeme and Scott Juniper.

JUNIPER FAMILY

THE masterminds behind Mooloolaba as we know it today, father and son trio Graeme, Scott (both pictured) and Shaun Juniper have had a massive 12 months.

Graeme was elected as the new president of Mooloolaba Business and Tourism, charged with guiding the business community through one of its most important periods with major developments in the pipeline, including the vital Brisbane Rd Carpark site.

Meanwhile Scott has been busy with a number of residential projects through his company Cube Developments, with work starting on the $37 million Curve development at Birtinya and the $70 million Beach Life Alex project in Alexandra Headland.