50 rewarding years at the Beerwah Glasshouse Football Club
By Kirra Livingstone
BRUCE Austin is a lychee farmer and a hinterland local, who is celebrating his 50th, yes that’s right, 50th year at the BeeGees Football Club.
While Bruce is humble about his success and endeavours at the club, his fifty years at the BeeGees proves his commitment to the club, which is something worth celebrating.
“When I was 16 in 1985 we moved to Woombye and I had to play for them as I had no licence so my parents made me play for the local club,” he said.
“Woombye and BeeGees had a fierce rivalry back then and after spending all my junior years at BeeGees my debut into senior men was actually with Woombye.”
“As soon as I got my licence I was back at the mighty greens, but I had to work exceptionally hard to get myself into the first grade again after my year at Woombye.”
BeeGees president, Amanda Milburn, said the club is very lucky to have had him in their corner for all these years.
“A legend is not the one who achieves greatness in a moment, but the one who dedicates a lifetime to the love of the game. Bruce; a player embodying loyalty, passion, and unwavering commitment,” she said.
Bruce has played with and coached various family members of his in the 50 years he’s been at the local club. “I have been at the club all my life as both my uncle Ken Fullerton and my father were instrumental in getting the club started and played in the original BeeGees team,” he said.
“I spent so much time with my cousins playing and supporting all the teams, having a beer and even going to discos back in the old days at the clubhouse.
“I coached both my girls Kacie and Rae in juniors for about five years and played with my cousins Chris and Scott Fullerton all through juniors and also in seniors.”
He said that his best moment at the BeeGees has been to maintain his level of competitiveness.
“My proudest achievement after all this time even though I’m super competitive and tackle very hard!” Bruce said.
“The fact that I’ve only ever had a handful of yellow cards in all these years, and never been sent off with a red card.”
Throughout the years, Bruce has had several breaks due to injuries, but he has always come back to what he says is his favourite football club, the BeeGees.
“One of my most unusual and tragic games would be against Kawana when I snapped my Achilles and spent the next nine months in rehab it so I could walk again,” he said.
“I broke four vertebrae in my back at mx and when I snapped my Achilles I had surgery to reattach it too so there’s been quite a few years I couldn’t play.”
The striker has played his fair share of representative football during his playing career, further expressing his love for the sport.
“I played rep soccer for Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay in juniors, and won the Sunshine Coast golden boot award in 1997,” Bruce said.
“It’ll be really sad when I have to hang up my boots, hopefully I can keep going a little bit longer.”
kirra@gcnews.com.au
