The Sunshine Coast Sports Hall of Fame recognises the sporting achievements of our local athletes that have achieved the highest level in their sport, and the tireless work behind the scenes of sports administrators, coaches and officials is acknowledged by Certificates of Merit.
The Sunshine Coast Sports Hall of Fame AGM will be held on 25 February 2020.
Swimming
Melanie Wright (Schlanger)
Spanning over 10 glorious professional swimming years, Melanie made her first Australian team in 2006 having started swimming at age 14 in Maroochydore.
Touch Football
Peta Rogerson
In 1999, Peta Rogerson was selected in the successful Queensland Under-20 Women's team for the State of Origin Series. This was the beginning of her State representation which continued through to 2015.
Cricket
Kirsten Pike
At the young age of 16, Kirsten Pike begun playing cricket for the Sunshine Coast Scorchers.
Surfing
Josh Constable
Josh honed his skills riding waves at the points of Noosa Heads and then emerged as one of Australia’s best-ever longboard surfers.
Swimming
Marayke Jonkers
Paralympian Marayke Jonkers has had a whirlwind sporting journey from becoming a paraplegic in a car accident as an infant to winning silver and two bronze medals as a swimmer, competing at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
Swimming
Clinton Stanley
An inspirational swimmer known as Cooroy’s “Super Fish”, Clinton has been a world champion across a range of events including his favourite event the 1500 metres freestyle.
Motor Sport
Chris Vermeulen
Chris was one of Australia’s most versatile and competitive motorcycle racers. He competed on the world stage for 13 years, claiming success in three world championship series.
Surf Lifesaving
Kirsty Holmes
At an early age Kirsty built her life around surf lifesaving and the beach and was the first female athlete to win Ironwoman, Board and Ski individual events at both state and Australian levels.
Surf Lifesaving
Zane Holmes
Zane’s professional ironman career spans over 13 years. Having started at the age of five Zane has taken out every major ironman title including two world titles, 22 Australian medals, five state titles, five Kellogg’s Nutri Grain Ironman titles and the Coolangatta Gold Championship title.
Surf Lifesaving
Brad Stokes
Brad has been a dominant force in ironman racing having won three consecutive Queensland Junior Ironman titles as well as 13 Australian Gold Medals and 41 Australian medals in total.
Surf Lifesaving
Denby Stokes
One of the first contracted athletes in the very first women’s ironwoman series, Denby has had an outstanding career in surf sports.
Bodyboarding
Kira Llewellyn
After joining the local bodyboarding club on the Coast in 1994, Kira Llewellyn went on to be the youngest and first Australian female to win the Pipeline event in Hawaii at 18 years of age.
Cricket
Ashley Noffke
Ashley Noffke became an inspiration to Sunshine Coast cricketers, rising through the ranks to the highest level while still on the Sunshine Coast.
Surf Lifesaving
Steven Short
For almost two decades, Steven Short was one of the premier competition surf lifesavers at the Maroochydore club.
Racehorse Trainer
Bruce McLachlan
As Queensland’s leading Racehorse Trainer, Bruce McLachlan trained more than 3000 winners in a career covering 40 years.
Waterskiing
Emma Sheers
There was no better female water-skiier in the world in the early 2000s than Pelican Waters' Emma Sheers.
Basketball
Jae Cross
In 2006, she won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games playing for the Australian Opals. Jae was also a member of the Australian National Team for 12 years (1995-2006) and won a bronze medal at the 2002 World Championships.
Tennis
Pat Rafter
Pat had claimed 11 singles titles and 10 doubles titles on the ATP tour. He also spent some time as the No.1 ranked player in the world in 1999.
Boxing
Bill Burow
Bill Burow has been an integral part of Australian boxing for more than three decades, guiding the careers of some of Australia’s most talented fighters.
Surfing
Gary Elkerton
Gary won the world masters crown in France in 2000. He made a courageous defence of his title in Ireland in 2001 and clinched a hat-trick of titles in 2003.
Surf Lifesaving
Kristy Munroe
The induction of Kristy Ellis (nee Munroe) into the hall of fame at just 23 years of age, proves the significance of her achievements in the sport of surf lifesaving.
Cricket and Rugby
Otto Nothling
Otto Nothling was a dual international for Australia in cricket and rugby—one of only two men to have achieved that feat.
Boxing
Darren Obah
After a stunning amateur career, which led him to a record 8 Australian championships, the 86 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games and the 92 Barcelona Olympics, he turned professional in March 1993.
Boxing
Richard (Rick) Finch
Richard fought his way to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in 1986, where he won a silver medal.
Rugby League
Mal Meninga
Mal Meninga stands as one of the greats of Rugby League, both here in Australia and around the world.
Swimming
Lisa Curry-Kenny
An amazing swimming career that reaped three Olympic games appearances.
Waterpolo
Julian Muspratt
Julian is a two time Olympian, representing his country in the fierce sport of Waterpolo.
Swimming
Jeff Hardy
Vision impaired Jeff Hardy is the world record holder for the 800m and 1500m freestyle as well as holding 7 Australian records.
Swimming
Dick Orbell
A gold and silver Commonwealth Games medal winner and captain of the Australian Swim Team, Dick has also represented Australia in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Softball
Kim Cooper
Kim Cooper commenced her softball career on the Sunshine Coast, breaking into the Queensland U19 side in 1984 before cracking the state senior list in 1985.
Surf Lifesaving
Kerri Thomas
Kerri has won more Sunshine Coast branch titles than she cares to remember, and in 1999 became the first female competitor to be named captain of the regional team.
Hockey
Charlotte Price
Charlotte was instrumental in the introduction and development of both hockey and vigaro on the Sunshine Coast and has been at the forefront of women’s sport for more than 40 years.
Kayaking
Clint Robinson
By the age of 12, Clint had represented Queensland in both rugby league and surf lifesaving, and in 1998 he became Australia’s most successful surf lifesaving star with an incredible 24 gold medals at national championships.
Boxing
Billy Potter
One of the great all-round athletes, Billy Potter was not only a versatile boxer, he also excelled at swimming, surf lifesaving, running and rugby league.
Surf Lifesaving
Arthur Parkyn
In 1928 he won his first Club Champion Lifesaver title, and went on to win that same title every year until 1939 when the competition was discontinued because of World War 2.
Swimming
Brendan Burkett
Brendan Burkett has represented Australia at four Paralympic Games in Swimming.
Soccer
Fin McColm
He has been involved in sport and administration for the past 30 years and was awarded an Australia Day Award for his outstanding contribution.
Golf
Ian Baker-Finch
Regarded by many as the “Mr Nice Guy” of world golf, Ian Baker-Finch blazed his way to a dramatic win in the 1991 British Open.
Surf Lifesaving
Grant Kenny
The king of ironman racing, Grant Kenny followed in his famous father’s footsteps, dominating a golden era for surf sport.
Tennis
George Thorogood
His achievements included a staggering 106 trophies in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
Surf Lifesaving
Jack Spender
Known as “Mr Surf Lifesaving”, Jack served as Sunshine Coast branch president and State SLSA president and made a significant contribution at national and international level.
Basketball
Syd Page
Syd's two proudest moments were when the Clippers won the national title, becoming the first Queensland side ever to hold the championship, and when the Clippers won the inaugural Southern Cross Title.
Athletics
Glynis Nunn-Cearns
At just 15 years of age the Sunshine Coast based athlete Glynis Nunn proved she would be a star of the future, winning 6 state titles, 5 in record time.
Surf Lifesaving
Hayden Kenny
The original ironman, Hayden won the first ever Australian Ironman Championship at Alexandra Headland in 1966.
Bowls
Keith Poole
Keith has represented Australia while living on the Sunshine Coast in 169 international matches and Queensland in excess of 500 games.
Waterpolo
Russell Sherwell
He was part of the Australian waterpolo team competing in the 1981 and 1985 World Cup, 1992 World Titles and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Surf Lifesaving
Steve Wilkes
Legendary surf swimmer Steve Wilkes competed throughout the 40s and 50s winning four Australian surf championships and placed on five other occasions.
Javelin
James Achurch
Jim represented Australia in javelin at the 1954 Vancouver games, winning gold with a throw of 224ft and breaking the old record by more then 17 feet.
Swimming
Suosaari brothers
Axel was a brilliant freestyler reputedly “the best surf swimmer in the world” while Joe held the 400 yard breast-stroke Australian record for many years.
Pole vault
Alana Quade (Boyd)
Alana Quade (Boyd) has represented Australia at three Olympic Games and two Commonwealth Games in pole vault.
Sprinting
Denise Boyd
Denise Boyd has represented Australia in two Olympic Games and three Commonwealth Games in athletics (sprinting).
Pole vault
Ray Boyd
Ray Boyd has represented Australia in two Olympics and three Commonwealth Games in pole vault.
Boxing
Brad Hore
Brad Hore has represented Australia at two Olympics and two Commonwealth Games.
Surf Lifesaving
Jenny Parry
Jenny Parry has represented Australia on twelve occasions in surf lifesaving.