LIONS BOARD LEGEND STEPS DOWN
BY BRAD KLIBANSKY
LONG- TIME director Graeme Downie has officially retired from the Brisbane Lions after serving more than 15 years on the Club’s Board.
Downie joined the inaugural Brisbane Bears Board on 26 January 1992 as the Club had previously existed under private ownership with the Pelerman’s Liquor Group.
He was Club Chairman from February 2000 until February 2006 after being appointed Deputy Chairman in 1999. During his tenure, Mr Downie chaired the Audit & Finance and Football Committees at various times.
Lions Chairman Tony Kelly thanked Graeme for his long-time service and integral shaping of the Brisbane Lions Football Club.
“The facts really speak for themselves here. When Graeme first joined the Board, the Brisbane Bears had 5,400 members, a small turnover of $4.5 million and were the struggling ‘cellar dwellers’ down at the Gold Coast,” Mr Kelly said.
“With Graeme’s strong direction and commercial savvy leading the Board, the Club went from strength to strength winning three straight premierships and creating a modern AFL dynasty.
“Graeme had a massive influence on the Club in its formative years and its current success will be his legacy. You’ve got to remember the Club was really on the ropes at one stage and battling for survival in the early nineties."
