Gold Coast sports clubs Surfers Paradise Baseball and Tweed Coolangatta AFL mourning the deaths of influential figures

The Gold Coast sports community is mourning the death of a man who played an influential role in setting up the future success of many junior players.

THE Tweed Coolangatta Junior AFL Club has paid tribute to a man who played an influential role in setting up the future success of many junior players.

Ross Stevenson died earlier this week, with the football community in Tweed Heads now mourning his loss.

“It is with great sadness that the Tweed Coolangatta Junior Football Club lost one of its own earlier this week with the passing of Ross Stevenson,” a statement from the club read.

“Ross was on the Junior Committee in the early 1980’s. We would like to pass on our thoughts and sympathy to Ross’s family and friends. RIP Ross.”

Stevenson’s death follows that of Surfers Paradise Baseball Club life member Col Carruthers.

EARLIER:

SURFERS Paradise Baseball Club is mourning the loss of life member Col Carruthers, who died last week after an association with the club spanning decades.

The Army veteran adopted the club shortly after its formation in 1987, having moved to the Coast from Newcastle.

Club president Tony McPhail remembered a gruff, grizzled exterior that couldn’t hide “a heart of gold” and deep affection for the Under-15s and Under-16s he coached for more than a decade.

“With his military background he was very much a sergeant-major with respect to how he dealt with kids and people and life,” McPhail said.

Late Surfers Paradise baseball junior coach Col Carruthers. Picture: Supplied

“He asked for the respect of everyone and he got it.

“Behind all that gruff and direct approach he had a really big heart of gold that he didn’t like people to see.”

Carruthers was a popular figure around the club and became known for an arsenal of witty one-liners.

Among the classics was a stern reminder to young players that a baseball didn’t have a bell in it, you had to look for it with your eyes.

“He’d give the boys a hard time - they thought - but he really wasn’t,” McPhail said.

“The families got behind him and supported him.”

An electrician by trade, Carruthers was always quick to volunteer his services free-of-charge when the club needed electrical work done.

He used his Army background when required as well.

At one Christmas party the club organised a helicopter to deliver Santa Claus onto the club’s main diamond.

Carruthers swung into action, clearing the field of kids and waving the helicopter down with military precision.

“He was just old school,” McPhail said.

“He turned a lot of young people into great sportsmen.”