From butcher to big time for popular Coast sports star Brett Wilkie

These days he’s a Commonwealth Games champion and Bulletin columnist, but it took some brave moves to get there.

BRETT Wilkie’s decision to chop out his work as a butcher has in turn delivered a slice of heaven.

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The Bowls Queensland CEO and Bulletin columnist was working at a wholesale meat distributor in Molendinar when he got a life-changing call in 2002.

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“My big break was getting the role as bowls development manager at the Helensvale Bowls Club in 2002, now known Club Helensvale,” the 45-year-old world fours and pairs champion revealed.

“I moved from Gatton to the Gold Coast at the end of 2001 with the aim of getting a job working in the sport.

Brett Wilkie in 2003.

“I started playing with South Tweed in December 2001 and then moved to Helensvale in July 2002.

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“I got the call from (Helensvale) general manager Len Brunt, I had just finished work and was over the moon.

“It was a full-time role promoting and organising bowls at the club; it wasn’t a huge paying role but one I would enjoy going to work each day.”

As a result, his trade would have to be cut.

Brett Wilkie in his early days at Helensvale.

“I was working as a butcher at a wholesale meat distributor when I got the call I had landed a job working in the sport I love,” he said.

“It was always a dream to work within the sport and I have been lucky enough to be involved in bowls ever since.

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“I worked for many years at Club Helensvale before moving to a high performance coaching role at Bowls Australia.

“I have now been CEO of Bowls Queensland for the past three-and-a-half years.”