WE’RE counting down the top 30 most influential people who help make the Wynnum-Manly community a great place to live.
There are so many people in our community who are doing great things and who are helping to make great things happen.
The list is only a sample and people are encouraged to suggest others.
Let’s acknowledge the people who help to make our community the great place it is.
The Wynnum Herald reveal five new people each day until we reach the final five on Wednesday, July 31.
Let us know in the comments what you think of the list and who you would include.
20. Paul King and Matthew King
The richest one day pro-am golf tournament is held right here on the bayside with superstars of the sport coming to the area.
The reason for that (yes, there is the $60,000 prize money) is because of father-son duo Paul and Matthew King from the Wynnum Golf Club.
The Bartons/BMD Wynnum Pro-Am last year celebrated its 40th year with stars such as Ian Baker-Finch, Marc Leishman, Peter Senior and many more featuring in the tournament which has become a big day on the bayside calendar each year.
But bringing superstar golfers is not the only thing the Kings have achieved in Wynnum, each year the club hosts charity golf events and has raised more than $500,000 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation over the past five years.
19. Ross Vasta
Ross Vasta has been the Federal Member for Bonner for a total of 13 years, he was first in the elctorate from 2004-2007 then was elected once again in 2010 and has kept his position ever since. The LNP politician has played a significant role in many key issues on the bayside but none bigger than delivering funding for an upgrade for the dangerous Lindum level crossing.
Earlier this year when the federal budget came out, Vasta and the Federal Government delivered $85 million for a solution after the crossing had been an important issue for residents for more than 12 years, including after an elderly woman lost her life at the intersection in March this year.
In addition to the upgrade for the crossing, Mr Vasta has been a significant contributor of funding for local community organisations to strengthen the bayside.
18. Cameron Costello
The CEO of Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC), Cameron is on a mission to achieve better outcomes for the Quandamooka people.
He is also on the board of Minjerribah Camping, a 100 per cent Quandamooka business which runs six holiday parks and foreshore camping on Minjerribah as well as being an active member in a number of committees.
Mr Costello has been an impressive leader and ambassador for the Quandamooka people for important issues including the Federal Court’s consent determination in 2011, which recognised the Quandamooka peoples native title rights over North Stradbroke Island.
He has also been a significant voice in several other key issues involving the ennvironment and conservation and many other important projects in the area.
17. Lionel Morgan
Lionel Morgan is one of the best players to ever wear the green, red and white of the Wynnum Manly Seagulls - a club whose history is full of big names in the sport.
But Morgan also made history in rugby league in Australia after he became the first indigenous player to play for the Australian Kangaroos in 1960 on the wing.
The 80-year-old, who is still involved with the Seagulls who also recognise their player of the match during their annual Indigenous Recognition Match at Stradbroke Island as the Lionel Morgan medallist, played a total of 108 games for Wynnum Manly from 1958-1969.
He scored two tries on his international debut and at the end of the 1960 season, he played one match for Australia in the 1960 World Cup against France, at Wigan. Morgan’s selection for the Tests made him the first Indigenous Australian to represent at an international level in any major national sporting team.
In 2008, he was also named on the wing in the Wynnum Manly Seagulls Team of the Century.
16. Wally Lewis
When it comes to rugby league, there is no bigger name than ‘The King’ Wally Lewis.
And while he is known for his incredible performances in State of Origin with the Queensland Maroons, Lewis was also part of one of the best club teams ever with the Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
Lewis joined the Seagulls in 1984 after six seasons with Valleys and alongside fellow superstar Gene Miles as well as Greg Dowling, Colin Scott, Ian and Brett French formed the greatest club side even seen in the Brisbane Rugby League competition.
The star-studded team would go on to beat Wayne Bennet’s Souths team to claim the 1984 premiership and Lewis, Miles and Dowling all went on to feature for the dominant Queensland and Australian sides that season.
Lewis then took over as captain/coach for the 1986 season, where the Seagulls would go on to claim another premiership.
The 59-year-old, who played a significant role in the history of Wynnum Manly Rugby League, later became an Immortal of the sport and considered arguably the greatest player ever.
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