‘Such a beautiful woman’: Community remember Southport Tigers off-field legend

Southport Tigers said goodbye to a club legend but her legacy of providing an avenue for financially stricken families to get their children into sport will live on forever. This is how

Southport Tigers have farewelled a club legend but her legacy will never be forgotten, according to chairman Scott Mulligan.

Known to the club as ‘Mrs B’, Gail Manning died on January 10 surrounded by family.

Mulligan said the passing of Manning hurts all those involved in rugby league on the Gold Coast.

“She was such a beautiful woman, biggest smile, always happy and helped pretty much everyone,” Mulligan said.

“She was the big personality at the club.

Club legend Gail Manning put in 43 years for the Southport Tigers, but also the greater community.

“The type of lady who would make sure you were well fed or always well looked after.

“This one really stings to lose such a beautiful person.

“One of the worst parts are seeing the kids next season (who will) wonder where Mrs B has gone and asking where she is.”

Manning put in a massive 43 years for the Southport Tigers, starting back as just a spectator for her son in 1980.

She then quickly made her voice heard at the Tigers, joining the committee as a secretary before becoming registrar and treasurer.

After years of service on the board at the Tigers, Gail took her knowledge to Rugby League Gold Coast, earning her way on to the board there.

Two of the biggest acknowledgments for her years of service included being awarded Life Membership of both Southport Tigers and Rugby League Gold Coast.

“I am pretty confident she was the first female to be given life membership from Rugby League Gold Coast,” Mulligan said.

“I am not exactly sure when she got life membership but it was seriously well deserved.

“The things she did for kids at our club are things that people just wouldn’t have even thought of.

“She was big on the club helping those families who couldn’t afford to pay for fees to really help them out.”

Club legend Gail Manning put in 43 years for the Southport Tigers, but also the greater community.

Gail introduced the Mrs B legacy for families and kids who could not afford fees or playing kits.

The Mrs B legacy is run by donations from members of the Tigers, donating money to the fund to help those more in need.

“We will keep that running for sure, that will never stop as that is one of her legacies,” Mulligan said.

“She will be extremely missed, she will forever be a massive part of the club.

“We had more than 500 people at the funeral.

“Some of the boys did the Haka for her as well as we played the team song.

“The players also gave her the guard of honour as her coffin left the building.

“It was so special and she was such an amazing lady, we really do miss her and that incredible smile of hers.”

The Mrs B Legacy is not the only thing Gail will be remembered for as ‘she was much bigger than football.’

She ran the over 50s social club, treasure at her Euchre club, along with helping victims of domestic violence by helping Hearts of Purple charity.

“There wasn’t anything this woman couldn’t do,” Mulligan said.

Southport Tigers club legend Gail Manning was the ‘jack of all trades’ at the Southport Leagues Club. Picture by Richard Gosling

“She cooked and provided food for local homeless charities as well as being a much loved lollipop lady for the kids at Bellevue Park State school.

“She ran most of the fundraising for the club, ordered stock for the bar, bistro and canteens.

“Things like keeping score and time for the little ones on the junior field.

“But her favourite thing was to watch her grandson Linden play, you could hear her cheering from across the field.”

“The incredible lady was known to everyone across the football community but she was so much more than football, she was a giver to the community in anyway she can.”