On the evening of 30th March 2012 a group of enthusiastic footy fans attended the launch of the Queensland Australian Football Forensics at the Pineapple Hotel at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane. The new Chief Executive Officer of AFL Queensland, Michael Conlan, kindly gave of his time to be in attendance to meet guests.
Forensics’ members Greg Parker and Robert Allen told the guests that the first footy club in Queensland was formed in 1866, and despite the game having a long, rich history in the state, very little of it had been formally recorded. The primary goal of the Forensics – to document the history of the game, be it last season or a hundred seasons ago – was explained. By sharing information, resources and ideas amongst fellow researchers, by promoting both the game and an appreciation of the game’s history, and by providing forums for the gathering of like-minded footy fans – whether lovers of the social side of things or the game’s history itself – guests were enlightened as to how the Forensics intend to reach their goals, and in so doing help others reach theirs. Guest speakers at future functions would add colour and interest.
For helping to make the evening a success, thanks were given to Michael Conlan, Katy of the Pineapple Hotel, Spencer Howson of 612 ABC radio, Lisa McKoy and Craig Millar of AFL Queensland, Mark ‘The Ear’ Oberhardt of The Courier-Mail and John Harms of the Almanackers website.
Letter of Endorsement from AFLQ’s CEO Dean Warren
In 2016 the AFL Community will celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the formation of the first Australian Football club in Queensland, and as such, the birth of Australian Football in our State.
To mark the occasion, football historians Greg Parker and Murray Bird, in conjunction with the Queensland football history group, the Football Forensics, are working towards the 2016 release of a book which will detail the history of the game in this State. The work of producing the book is nearing completion.
I am very much looking forward to the release of this publication which will be a long overdue account of our game’s rich history in Queensland, something about which little is widely known. The volume will fill a void not only in the game’s documented history, but in that of Queensland itself.
On behalf of AFL Queensland, I strongly encourage any individual or company with the capacity to help bring this project to fruition to do so.
Yours sincerely
Dean Warren
Chief Executive Officer