Trent Walters sudden death triggers emotional tributes from Cricket Gold Coast community
The Gold Coast cricket community is mourning the tragic death of a man lauded for his influence in enabling the grassroots of the game to flourish.
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UPDATE: Alberton Ormeau Cricket Club’s Lisa Wells has called on the region to speak up and not suffer in silence in light of the tragic death of a man who “made everyone else feel better about themselves”.
The sudden loss of Trent Walters, the Queensland Cricket manager for the Gold Coast, triggered an outpouring of grief across the Glitter Strip as tributes flowed in his honour.
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Wells, the Hurricanes’ community development co-ordinator, worked alongside Walters to bring several initiatives to light.
This work ranged from their first inclusive and all abilities team to ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’ — a social media campaign to inspire greater awareness surrounding mental illness.
Wells said at 5pm this afternoon the club would open their doors to anyone wishing to come forward and share stories of Walters’ impact on the community.
She confirmed that his passing was mental illness related, but that it was he who convinced her to transform ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ from a cricket concept to a widespread avenue of awareness.
“I was really struggling writing it (the Wellbeing Wednesday post) this morning. Trent helped me get this program happening and yet he’s the person we didn’t know was struggling,” Wells said.
“It just blows my mind … we can write these posts and put these things up but we need people to take that first step to chat and open the conversations. It’s such a brave thing to do.
“We wanted to embrace the community more with the club, and I went to Trent with this idea. “Trent was saying that’s great but can you engage more than just the cricket club? He pushed me to think outside the square a little, get in contact with politicians and let other people know once a month our club house is open and it’s not just about the cricket club.
“He made me think a little bit further than what I was thinking.”
Such was the impact Walters had made on the Queensland cricket community, the Brisbane Heat’s WBBL side donned black armbands in his honour when they took on the Melbourne Renegades in Mackay on Tuesday.
Wells said at this weekend’s games Alberton Ormeau players would don black armbands, hold a minutes silence and pay tribute to Walters’ endeavours on the Gold Coast.
She said the Hurricanes would continue to discuss ways to not only honour his life now, but ensure his legacy is everlasting.
“It’s about working out a way that we can commemorate him, not only this round but create a legacy so we’re always talking about him and what he achieved,” Wells said.
“He was just a down to earth bloke who would get in and do anything. You didn’t have to ask him twice, whether it was a game of cricket with the kids or setting up for a game of cricket. “He made everybody else just feel better about themselves.”
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INITIAL: Gold Coast cricket community is mourning the tragic death of a man lauded for his influence in enabling the grassroots of the game to flourish.
Trent Walters, the Queensland Cricket manager for the region since 2018, passed away under sudden circumstances with club’s quick to express their grief in tributes for him.
He has left behind a gaping hole in the sporting landscape, with Gold Coast’s clubs posting an outpouring of grief and praise in honour of his service.
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A post from Alberton Ormeau Junior Cricket’s Facebook page commemorated Walters’ impact when the northern outfit were merging their junior and senior clubs, saying “everyone who met him are better off thanks to Trent and his life”.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts we say goodbye to one of the clubs greatest mates,” the post read.
“Trent has been so influential in where the club is today and the plans we have for the future.
“Since those early days Trent has always been there for us and has done more for this club than can be put in just a Facebook post.
“From the inception of the inclusive program, funding, helping with the celebrity big bash, securing Gainsborough Parklands for our U10s to just being an ear and a helping hand Trent was always there.
“We will miss him but be forever grateful and will always remember that big smile.”
Beechmont Cricket Club expressed their adoration for Walters’ “advocacy and passion for the game” and the “great leader and mentor’s” role in developing cricket in the rural community.
Meanwhile, Broadbeach Robina Cricket Club shared similar sentiments of Walters and his role in harnessing the region’s junior talent, expressing their “shock” at the news.
In their own social media post the club confirmed they would pay tribute to Walters in their games this weekend.
“The Cricket Gold Coast community is in shock this week to learn of the sudden passing of Trent Walters from Queensland Cricket,” the BRCC post read.
“Trent was an absolute workhorse in growing the game for junior kids on the Gold Coast and played a big part in giving our Junior Blasters the chance to run out with their cricketing heroes at The Gabba year after year.
“He was always polite, friendly and willing to lend a hand far beyond his work commitments.
“Our thoughts go out to his family – such a sudden passing of a community legend will be felt for a long time to come.”
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