Mr Downie first joined the Board of Directors of the then Brisbane Bears Football Club on 26 January 1992 – 17 years to the day of receiving his prestigious Australian Medal.
This inaugural Board had been formed just one month earlier as the organisation had previously existed under private ownership. Mr Downie chaired the Finance Sub-Committee for seven years during which time the Club merged with Fitzroy to become the Brisbane Lions.
Mr Downie was elevated to Lions Deputy Chairman in 1999 then served as Chairman from 2000 to 2006 when he presided over the Club’s triple premierships before stepping down from the role at the end of the 2006 season.
When Mr Downie first joined the Board, the Brisbane Football Club had 5,400 members and a turnover of $4.5 million based on the Gold Coast. In his final year as Chairman, the Club had 30,000 members, a turnover of $30 million and was based at Brisbane’s world-famous Gabba.
One of Mr Downie’s greatest feats was the business direction he provided in the successful merger between the Brisbane Bears and Melbourne’s Fitzroy Club to form the Brisbane Lions in July 1996.
Mr Downie was granted Lions Life Membership in 2007 and he has done it all in a voluntary capacity.
Endorsements
“Graeme Downie has been an inspiration to our football club for as long as I can remember and was a wonderful mentor for me. He doesn’t seek the limelight, preferring to get the next job done.”
– Tony Kelly, Brisbane Lions Chairman, 2006 – current
“Graeme holds an exulted place in the history of not only our club, but the game itself here in Queensland. He’s equally highly respected for his work with the Gold Coast business community.”
– Michael Bowers, Brisbane Lions Chief Executive Officer, 2002 – current
“Graeme was a tremendous supporter of grassroots football throughout his tenure with the Brisbane Lions. It was his foresight in advocating that the club provides financial support to hire local AFL development officers which took our community football to a new level.”
– Richard Griffiths, AFL Queensland Chief Executive Officer, 1997 – current
