Tattersall’s Club Brisbane president faces first challenge in 20 years

The divisive decision to allow female members into Brisbane’s Tattersall’s Club is not being taken lying down, with a historic power grab by aggrieved parties.

FOR the first time in two decades, Tattersall’s Club president Stuart Fraser will face a challenge for the top job.

Rick Green, a barrister who is the brother of Cowboys coach Paul Green, will challenge Mr Fraser for the presidency.

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And for the first time in the club’s 154-year history, Mr Green has put together a “ticket’’ to rid the club of the Fraser-led board.

It comes after a tumultuous ballot to allow women into the club, which was narrowly carried, and is now the subject of a Supreme Court challenge.

Mr Green is a past president of the Wynnum-Manly Leagues Club, a position he held for 10 years, also spending three years as a board member of the Queensland Rugby League.

His vice-presidential nominee is Michael Needham, an information technology professional who is the president of the Tatt’s Snooker Club, and whose father was president of the club from 1980-85.

Others in the Green team include realtor Jonathan Costello, president of the Colts Club; Craig Green, partner at Gadens Lawyers and life member of the Mortgage Finance Association of Australia; Will Pitchforth, president of the Whiskey Club; and Chris Slack, investment banker and president of the Brisbane Pole and Equestrian Club.

Current president Stuart Fraser

Challenger Rick Green

The current committee trying to stave off the challengers includes Mr Fraser, a committeeman for 14 years and LNP treasurer; vice-presidential candidate Michael Paramor, a former general manager who led the 2018 women membership campaign with Mr Fraser; Mark Greer, a realtor; current treasurer Paul Williams, a banker; current committeeman Ed Profke; and current committeeman Tony See, a KPMG partner known for his low profile.

The ballot is expected next month.

A Tatt’s source said there was still enmity over the vote to have women members.

“It’s caused a major split,’’ the source said.

“It has also created division around how the campaign was orchestrated.

“There’s a school of thought it wasn’t as transparent as it should have been.

“The ballot for president and committee will be as hotly contested as the vote to allow women in.’’

The future of female membership at the exclusive Tattersall’s Club hangs in the balance after the court challenge.

Member Paul Hogan launched a legal challenge in the Supreme Court after Tattersall’s male members historically voted to allow women to join.

The motion was carried 1405-1368.

A crucial element of the civil case rests on the way envelopes for the ballot were marked before they were sent out for members.

Mr Green refused to comment. Mr Fraser was unavailable.

Originally published as Tattersall’s Club Brisbane president faces first challenge in 20 years