I rise to speak in support of Item B, the naming of the sporting node within Booker Place Park, Bellbowrie to “Stegeman Sporting Complex”.
Tony and Lorraine Stegeman’s association with the Bellbowrie Sports and Community Club is well known within my local community and when I outline it to the Chamber, I’m sure Councillors will agree this is a worthy recognition.
Chair, the Bellbowrie Sports and Community Club was built in 1984 with many residents from the area, including Tony and Lorraine, donating funds to help with its construction.
The initial club building had no cooking facilities, so on Friday nights between 1984 and 1999 when sport was being played, Tony, Lorraine and other volunteers operated a makeshift sideline canteen. The famous ‘Steggars burger’ remains a staple on the club’s menu today.
Their generosity extended to loaning the Club funds toward sealing the leased car park, and in 1998, they mortgaged their family home to finance a new kitchen and refurbishment of the Club’s bar area.
Tony was heavily involved in the administration of the Club and, apart from an absence from August 2006 to February 2009, was on the Club’s committee from 1987. He was the Club’s gaming nominee from 1997 to 2021, the liquor licensee when the club was granted its licence in 1994 and was responsible for the associated compliance. He also undertook the Club’s bookkeeping responsibilities.
In the period of his absence, the Club suffered some dramatic financial losses and Tony was asked to return to oversee all operations including finance. With Tony’s dedication and countless hours of unpaid time, this debt was cleared in 2020, enabling the club to become viable again.
Without the support of a consistent and stable committee, and the committee laying their trust in Tony, this could not have been achieved.
Chair, Tony and Lorraine have been recognised with the following awards in acknowledgment of their contribution to the community.
- In 1989, Lorraine was awarded a Community Service award from the club;
- In 1995, Tony was awarded a Bellbowrie Sports and Community Club Life Membership; and
- In 2000, Tony was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia and an Australian Sporting Achievement award.
There has been strong community support for the sporting node naming to acknowledge Mr and Mrs Stegeman’s contributions to the club and the community, and it was my pleasure to lend my support to this request.
Chair, in conclusion I should note that the naming of the Stegeman Sporting Complex covers the fields utilized by the Moggill Cricket Club, the Bellbowrie Touch Football Club and the Moggill Football Club, but I stress, excluding the main soccer field.
Councillors might recall that last year, I spoke in support of the main field in front of the Sports and Community Club being named in honour of long-term Moggill Football Club stalwart, Simon Clark.
Together with members of the Clark family, we unveiled the new signs there just before Christmas and that will forever be known as Simon Clark Field.
I look forward to seeing members of the Stegeman family unveil their own signage nearby, sometime in the near future.
Thank you.