IT ALL STARTED WITH A VISION - 1957
The Clem Jones Centre has a proud tradition of service to the community, stretching back to 1957.
It began when the Camp Hill Carina branch of the Australian Labor Party requested Clem Jones approach the Brisbane City Council to use vacant land on Stanley Rd for community sports fields and facilities.
The Camp Hill Carina Welfare Association was formed to plan and manage these fields and facilities and held its first meeting on 30 June 1957.
At that meeting, the Association decided to lease 5 acres of crown land that could be used for a variety of sporting opportunities for the youth in the area and set about the challenging task of clearing the land to make it suitable for fields and facilities.
CLEM JONES AO 1918 - 2007
A former Lord Mayor of Brisbane
and a passionate community
advocate. Clem Jones helped
secure land and support for sporting
fields and facilities in the Carina
area.
His vision and dedication helped
create a place where everyone can
participate, connect and thrive.
At the time, the site was little more than an abandoned trotting track and illegal dump site – with no water, no electricity, no toilets and Stanley Road still an unsealed dirt track.
Driven by a strong sense of community spirit, volunteers cleared the land by hand and laid the foundations for what would become one of Brisbane’s most important community sporting hubs.
Today, the Centre spans more than 42 acres and supports thousands of participants across aquatics, fitness, sport, health and recreation.
LEADERSHIP & LEGACY
PRESIDENTS OF THE ASSOCIATION
The Clem Jones Centre has been guided by vision, dedication and strong community leadership for more than six
decades. From our founding to today, we remain committed to serving the community and creating a place for
everone to particpate and thrive.
YEARS
1957 - 1958
1958-1979
1979 - 1993
1993 -2018
2018 - Present
PRESIDENT
Jack Ryan
Mick Foley
Rowland Cowan
Terry Mackenroth
Kevin Cairns
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Steve Heald became the first CEO of the Centre in 2008 until his retirement in 2024 and was instrumental in steering the Centre through challenging periods including the pandemic along with planning and development of the Wellness Precinct.
Under current General Manager Doug Waller, the Centre has entered its next phase of growth and development. Building on the strong foundations created over many decades, the Centre will evolve into a more integrated and accessible precinct for future generations.
