The Gold Coast SUNS are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Life Member Alan ‘Doc’ Mackenzie today, at the age of 75.
A long-time servant of AFL football in Queensland, Mackenzie played an integral role in the establishment of the Gold Coast Football Club.
Gold Coast SUNS Chairman Tony Cochrane passed on his sincere condolences on behalf of everyone that has and continues to be involved with the club.
“On behalf of everyone at the Gold Coast SUNS, our deepest condolences go out to his wife Jo-Ann and fellow family members, as well as the Southport Sharks, and it goes without saying that they will always be welcome as part of our football club,” Cochrane said.
“Doc Mackenzie held a very special place in the hearts of the whole Queensland AFL community.
“This was especially true for us here at the Gold Coast SUNS where he served with great distinction and a huge passion in his role as a founding father, dating right back to the inaugural bid committee. Alan Mackenzie was rightly one of our very first life members having served ten years on our Gold Coast SUNS board.
“His role over such an extended period of time in developing Southport Football Club into a powerhouse both on and off the field is an extraordinary achievement and should never be understated.
“Vale Doc, he will be greatly missed.”
Dr Alan Mackenzie joined the GC 17 bid team in April 2008 with the sole purpose of bringing AFL football to the Gold Coast. That effort was bought to life a year later when the AFL officially granted a provisional license to the Gold Coast Football Club in March 2009.
His impact from that moment to the Gold Coast Football Club can only be described as remarkable. Doc served as a board member for 10 years and in 2018 was inducted as a life member of the club, highlighting the substantial role he has played in the establishment of the SUNS.
Dr Mackenzie was also president of the Southport Football Club for 48 years and been involved in AFL football as a player, volunteer, medical officer, coach, selector and administrator.
He contributed heavily to the Brisbane Bears/Lions for six years (1992-98) as club doctor, selector and match committee chairman.
A Life Member of AFL Queensland, he received the Australian Sports Medal (2000), the AFL Merit Award (2003) and was the inaugural recipient of the Gold Coast Bulletin Sports Award (2003).
In 2008 Dr Mackenzie was inducted to the AFL Queensland Hall of Fame and in 2012 he was recognised by the AFL with the highly prestigious Jack Titus Service Award.
He was also acknowledged for his contribution to Australian Rules Football in Queensland at the Queensland Sport Awards in 2018 with the Service to Sport Award.
