What’s happening?
Victoria Point Sharks Sporting Club has received two major honours at the Clubs Queensland and McCain Foods Awards for Excellence.
The club was named Club of the Year (Medium) and Best Football Club, standing out among entries from across Queensland.
The awards were presented at a black-tie gala dinner at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre last Thursday night.
Clubs Queensland CEO Kelly Egan said the honour was well earned.
“The Victoria Point Sharks Sporting Club has been a model club for many years and its recognition is well deserved,” Ms Egan said.
“The Sharks are among the many Queensland community clubs that step up and really make a difference in their community. This is what sets them apart in the hospitality market, their charter to support the members who support them, be it through sports programs, grants, fundraisers or creating an environment for members to really connect with others.
“The Clubs Queensland Awards, now in their 27th year, give us that opportunity to say you’re doing a great job and we really value the service you provide to your members.”
Why it matters?
These awards reflect more than club success. They recognise the value of a community organisation that continues to support local people.
The Sharks have deep roots in Victoria Point. The club began in 1966 as the Victoria Point Australian Football Club.
Its original clubhouse was built in 1973. Since then, the club has grown into a place that supports sport, fundraising and connection.
That wider role is part of what made the Sharks stand out at a state level.
Local Impact
This recognition puts a Redlands club in the spotlight across Queensland.
It also highlights the role local clubs play in backing members, supporting causes and creating spaces for people to come together.
For Victoria Point, the Sharks remain more than a sporting club. They are part of the area’s social fabric and community life.
That impact was clear again this year through their fundraising work for the Leukaemia Foundation.
By the numbers
- More than 1,000 people attended the gala dinner in Brisbane, showing the scale of the statewide awards event.
- The Sharks raised $40,096 for the Leukaemia Foundation, well above their $25,000 target.
- Staff completed 910 laps of the club’s oval across three straight days, despite rain and February humidity.
Zoom In
The Sharks have had a busy year, with one of their biggest efforts centred on the Leukaemia Foundation.
The club’s staff completed 910 laps of their oval during the Laps for Leukaemia Charity Walk. The event now means a great deal to the club.
It also carries personal meaning for staff, including Sharks Head Chef Josh Springfield, who battled leukaemia as a toddler.
The fundraising effort began almost three years ago from a request for a donation from the Leukaemia Foundation.
Victoria Point Sharks General Manager Rhys Faint said the club wanted to do more.
“We thought we could do better than a donation, so as a community club we really got behind the cause and built upon that support with a sports lunch and, now in its second year, the Laps for Leukaemia Charity Walk,” Mr Faint said.
“Last year, most of the donations were made during the event itself. So, our strategy this year was to maximise the amount of time spent walking to hopefully bring more money in for the worthy cause.
“It paid off, with this year’s event raising more than twice as much as we did in 2025, which is just incredible.”
Zoom Out
The Sharks’ success also points to the broader role of community clubs across Queensland.
Clubs Queensland says these organisations are membership-based and not-for-profit, with support flowing back into local communities.
Across the state, there are more than 1,100 community clubs with a combined 5.6 million memberships.
They employ more than 34,000 people, contribute more than $549 million to communities and generate more than $2.5 billion in annual economic activity.
That support includes cash contributions, non-cash benefits, community assets and volunteer mobilisation.
Clubs Queensland also says clubs help strengthen social connection and community cohesion.
