Vale Alan ‘Doc’ Mackenzie: ‘Founding father’ of Gold Coast Suns dies, family shares funeral details
AFL CEO Gill McLachlan has honoured Doc Mackenzie as his Southport Sharks family spoke fondly of the man who was ‘the glue’ that built the club. FAMILY SHARES FUNERAL DETAILS
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IF HEAVEN has bartenders hopefully someone called ahead to prepare them for Dr Alan ‘Doc’ Mackenzie’s arrival.
A warm seat at the bar with a view of the footy and a cold beer on-hand. Seven ounces, no more or less.
That is how former Gold Coast Bulletin Aussie rules writer Terry Wilson will remember his good mate Doc.
“He was by far and away the most outstanding sports administrator on the Gold Coast, in Queensland and perhaps Australia,” said Wilson.
“He was the glue of Southport.
“When he spoke you listened to every word. He had a dry sense of humour and you never saw him drink anything other than a seven ounce of beer.”
With the same staying power of Doc’s 49-consecutive years as club president, his beloved Southport Sharks willed themselves over the line against GWS on Sunday.
“For Doc” came the post-match cry.
Black armbands were supplied and worn with reverence. Be you a Shark for two decades or two months it did not matter. The moment was bigger than win or lose.
Footy clubs are oft labelled a family and in the days proceeding Doc’s passing, his Southport family grew even closer.
That same family will join together at Allambe Gardens, on Thursday to celebrate the life, and mourn the loss, of the club’s greatest-ever supporter.
You can also livestream the service here.
Doc is survived by his wife, Jo-Ann, and his two sons Mark and Chris and their families.
The family welcomes anyone who would like to celebrate Doc to join them on Thursday from 4pm.
“To be honest, Doc would be uncomfortable with the celebration of his life and contribution that he rightly deserves,” reflected Southport CEO Dean Bowtell.
“He was a quiet man, with high intelligence and a fantastic sense of humour. When he spoke it was wise and well-considered. He was our leader, who set the culture and the standards of our club.”
Doc’s disdain for poor umpiring was legendary. But all was said with the best interests of his club and the game at heart.
He always put footy and his people first.
“It was rare he would lose his temper, however, it wasn’t uncommon to hear his voice cut across Fankhauser Reserve when his patience was tested by poor umpiring,” mused Bowtell.
“No one could shoot you down more quickly than Doc.
“As the leader of our club, we could not have asked for anything more or anyone better. He was a great man who was not only my mentor, but a dear friend.”
Funeral Service
When:Thursday, May 19 2022 from 4pm
Where: Allambe Gardens, 129 Nerang-Broadbeach Road, Nerang
Celebration of Life
When: Thursday, May 19 2022 from 5.30pm
Where:Southport Sharks Events Centre, Cnr Olsen & Musgrave Avenue, Southport
All welcome. At the request of family face masks must be worn
Remembering Doc: Footy world mourns legend’s passing
Gill McLachlan (AFL CEO)
Bob Langford (Southport Sharks Vice-President)
“Dr. Alan Mackenzie will be remembered as the man who led Southport Sharks from a small country football club in the 70’s to one of Australia’s most successful sporting organisations. His resilience, patience and determination allowed our club to dream big and succeed. Even more remarkable, is throughout this time he was supporting the health and welfare of our local community as a general practitioner. Doc’s contribution to our city over the last 50 years has been truly exceptional.”
Rick Fankhauser (Director, Southport Sharks)
“Southport has been so lucky to have people like Doc Mackenzie, alongside Wally Fankhauser and Gerry Carmody, involved in the Club. They have laid the foundations of long term stability which stand us in good stead as we move forward into the new era of the Sharks. He was a mentor to so many. People like Doc don’t come along every day.”
Marcus Ashcroft (Former Sharks player, ex-AFL player)
“It’s never easy saying goodbye to a friend or loved one, but I suppose this is the first step in honouring them. Doc was Southport, he was Queensland football, he was loved by so many. I will miss our phone calls talking football, and I will miss the 3am emails about everything football. Thank you so much for bringing me to your great club.”
Jacob Dawson (Southport Sharks VFL Co-Captain / Reigning Doc Mackenzie Medallist)
“Doc Mackenzie will be remembered as one of the greatest ever at the Southport Football Club. The reputation of the man is remarkable. It was a great privilege of mine to get to know Doc personally over the last two years. The void left at our football club, and in the many he impacted throughout Queensland football, will be enormous.”
Ashlee Flick (Southport Sharks QAFLW Co-Captain)
“On behalf of the Southport Sharks senior women’s team, we want to acknowledge what an inspiration Doc was. His leadership of the Club was incredible. We want to thank Doc for the platform he created for females to be able to represent Southport Sharks in senior women’s footy. He will be dearly missed.”
‘No one has done more for AFL in Qld’: Community mourns legend
Much-loved and long-serving Southport Sharks president, QAFL Hall of Fame legend and Gold Coast Suns founding father, Dr Alan ‘Doc’ Mackenzie, has died.
A club spokesman confirmed his passing on Friday morning.
Dr Mackenzie died in the days following a cardiac arrest at home. He did not regain full consciousness after resuscitation.
‘Doc’ had been president of Southport since 1973 and the club was planning a 50th anniversary celebration for one of its favourite sons next year.
Instead, the Sharks family is in mourning after learning of his passing on Friday morning.
Dr Mackenzie, a lifetime servant of Australian football, played 110 QAFL games for Western Districts (1964-1970) and represented Queensland at the age of 19. Injury forced his playing retirement at 24.
He moved to the Gold Coast in 1972 and opened a full-time general practice in Surfers Paradise.
Dr Mackenzie was elected Southport Magpies president in 1973, aged 27, and under his stewardship the club became an AFL Queensland powerhouse, later rebranding to the Southport Sharks, which now plays in the VFL.
A life member of AFL Queensland, Dr Mackenzie was inducted into the QAFL Hall of Fame in 2008 and three years later, in 2011, was named the ninth ‘legend’ of the Queensland Football Hall of Fame – an honour which to this day, only 10 people share.
He also received the Australian Sports Medal (2000), AFL Merit Award (2003) and was an inaugural recipient of the Gold Coast Bulletin Sports Award (2003).
He served the Brisbane Bears / Lions as club doctor, selector and match committee chairman between 1992-98 and held similar roles with Gold Coast and Queensland junior and senior representative teams.
The Southport Sharks’ senior best and fairest player of each season is awarded the Doc Mackenzie Medal, in his honour.
Dr Mackenzie was a key member of the GC17 bid team that ultimately helped land an AFL franchise on the Gold Coast.
He served on the Gold Coast Suns board of directors for a number of years.
A Gold Coast Suns spokesman confirmed the AFL team will wear black armbands in Sunday’s match against Fremantle at Metricon Stadium in honour of Dr Mackenzie.
The club will also acknowledge his contribution to the Suns and Queensland football through other means, yet to be finalised.
Suns chairman Tony Cochrane led the tributes for a “founding father” of the club.
“On behalf of everyone at the Gold Coast Suns, our deepest condolences go out to his wife Jo-Ann and fellow family members, and it goes without saying that they will always be welcome as part of our football club,” Cochrane said.
“Doc Mackenzie held a very special place in the hearts of the whole Queensland AFL community.
“This was especially true for us here at the Gold Coast Suns where he served with great distinction and a huge passion in his role as a founding father, dating right back to the inaugural bid committee. Alan Mackenzie was rightly one of our very first life members having served ten years on our Gold Coast Suns board.
“His role over such an extended period of time in developing Southport Football Club into a powerhouse both on and off the field is an extraordinary achievement and should never be understated.
“Vale Doc, he will be greatly missed.”
Suns board member Bob East labelled Dr Mackenzie’s passing “a tremendous loss”.
“From a sporting perspective there is probably no one who has done more for the AFL in Queensland than Doc,” East said.
“It is a tremendous legacy that he leaves behind.
“On a personal level he was an incredibly decent person to travel with, we did lots of games together. His insights were always well-considered. he always thought deeply about the players and the broader AFL club and the community.
“He was across all aspects of what we feel is important. It is a tremendous loss. His contribution should be duly recognised.”
Inaugural Suns chairman John Witheriff shared a tribute to Dr Mackenzie on LinkedIn.
“Alan Doc Mackenzie was a great friend and mentor to me and many many others,” Witheriff wrote.
“Having known Doc for many years I had the great pleasure of meeting with him again in 2006 to develop a strategic plan for AFL footy on the Gold Coast.
“At that time he outlined his vision for an AFL club to be based on the Gold Coast.
“He saw the need for a world-class stadium and the opportunity to build a club that would assist in providing world class infrastructure to support the growing Gold Coast community.
“His vision was made real with the establishment of the Gold Coast Suns and Metricon Stadium.
“He led a community effort to create the 17th national team and Doc’s football knowledge, industry, respect and drive were critical for the establishment of the club.
“He was known for his wise counsel and gentle manner. He was a giant in this community and his passing is mourned by me and many others.”
AFL Queensland chairman Dean Warren said Queensland had “lost a true legend of the game”.
“Doc Mackenzie has made an incredible contribution to Queensland football; not only in his role as President of the Southport Football Club, but he has helped grow and shape the great game we have today in Queensland,” Warren said.
“From his playing days representing Western Districts to his Presidency at Southport, Doc also made a significant contribution to State Football, our AFL Queensland Hall of Fame selection committee and with our two AFL Clubs including a Foundation board member of the Gold Coast Suns and former club doctor of the Brisbane Lions.
“Whilst Doc would always represent and fight hard for his football club, he was balanced and had the best interests of the game in Queensland at heart.
“He would always be someone with a wise, level head and I personally appreciated his perspective and views certainly on Gold Coast football and the broader game in Queensland.
“Doc will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
“I pass on my sincere condolences to Doc’s wife Jo-Ann, follow family members and the Southport Football Club.”
The Mackenzie family expressed deep gratitude to the paramedics and emergency staff at Gold Coast University Hospital for their compassionate care.
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