After 20-years working away from Brisbane, including roles with PGA Australia in Sydney, the International Cricket Council in Dubai and Tennis Australia in Melbourne, lawyer turned sports business executive Old Boy Doug Waller (1992) now finds himself back home and in charge of the iconic Clem Jones Centre.

Doug says: “The Centre will turn 70 in 2027 and it’s an honour to be able to perpetuate the legacy of fellow Churchie Old Boy Dr Clem Jones AO (1934), a dynamic civic leader who believed sport builds character and discipline.

Peter Bishop (1992), also a Churchie Old Boy, grew up around the Centre in Carina and now serves as Treasurer. Peter is helping shape its long-term vision which is leveraging the Brisbane 2032 Games. Peter said: ‘In recent years, health and wellness services have been added to this offering, so in terms of a mixed-use community sports, fitness, leisure and wellness hub, there is really nothing comparable in Australia.” Continuing the Churchie connections, the centre is also home to Vikings Basketball Club fixtures.

Community service is the Centre’s reason for being and Doug is taking full advantage of his current position as General Manager. In memory of schoolmate Ben Prior (1992), who passed away from cancer, Doug is taking on the Daffodil Day Dip Challenge. Throughout August, Doug will be swimming laps in the chilly unheated 25 metre pool to raise funds for the Cancer Foundation. “Ben was a true Churchie allrounder and a fantastic young man. August 8th marks 30 years since his passing. He was set to do great things in life and his death from cancer in 1995 was a huge loss. It’s time we kicked cancer to the kerb.”

If you would like to donate funds to Doug’s Daffodil Day Dip Challenge in memory of Ben, please click here.

Learn more: Clem Jones Centre | Your Community Health and Fitness Centre

Doug Waller and Ben Prior taken at Sunshine Beach around Easter in 1995