Rockhampton’s first games were played at Jardine Park in 1972 and the first senior competition began in 1973, with Wandal, Gladstone, Parkhurst and Parkana. Gladstone defeated Wandal in the inaugural grand final. The junior competition began in 1974 and the reserve grade competition began in 1982. Other senior sides competing in the early years include All Blacks, Blackwater and Biloela. Brothers, Yeppoon and Boyne Island / Tannum Sands entered in the 1980s.
Wandal first played in plain blue, then changed colours to maroon and gold in 1977. In 1982, the club again changed colours to brown and gold, similar to Hawthorn’s. The name-change to Glenmore came in 1995 and in 2003 the club adopted the maroon, gold and blue of the Brisbane Lions, with the “traditional” bull replacing the lion.
The Bulls won senior premiership flags in 1976-78, 1981, and 1988-90. In the first 20 years of the competition, the club missed a grand final berth on only five occasions. The reserve grade side won premierships in 1988-90, 1992, 1994, 2005 and 2007.
The women’s and junior sides have brought the most on-field success to the club in recent years. Both the Under 14 and Under 17 sides won consecutive flags in 2001-03. In 2004, the age-groups were changed to Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17; the Under 15s produced another premiership. In 2020 the age groups were changed to U13.5, U15.5 and U17.5, with the 17.5’s winning the premiership. The women’s team have won premierships in 2013, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20 & 21.
Capricornia League Best & Fairest winners include; Tony Weller (1975), Ross Borg (1978 & 1980), Rick Munday (1988), Murray Payne (1998), Andy Thornbury (2000), Luke Henschke (2002), Ben Burns (2008), Aaron Russell (2009), Tyson Payne (2011 & 2014) and Tim Higgins (2016 & 2017). Reserve Grade Best & Fairest winners include; Mark Nunn (1985), Brian Lowe (shared in 1986), Rob Florence (1988), Rob Taylor (1992), Ross Borg (1994), Murray Payne (2000), Lachlan Moore (2011) and Tim Borg (2014). Women’s Grade Best & Fairest winners include; Katie Selhorst (2012), Meagan Rickertt (2015 & 2020) and Bree Grentell (2018).
Stenlake Park replaced the Rockhampton Cricket Ground as the Bulls’ home ground in 1983. The current change rooms were completed in 1985. Recent improvements to our home ground include the shade structures over the grandstands, new lighting, new coloured scoreboard, goal post netting and pads and general repainting / maintenance work.
Former Glenmore Bulls Junior Gavin Urquhart became the first Glenmore player to be picked up in the National Draft in 2006, when the Kangaroos selected him. He played his first AFL game in 2008 and received a NAB Rising Star Nomination. In 2008 Zac Smith signed a contract with the new AFL Club on the Gold Coast and played his first game in 2011 and picked up a NAB Rising Star nomination in his first year and named in the Australian squad for the International Rules Series against Ireland.
The club has had a great start in women’s AFL. In 2012 the club fielded its first women’s side in the AFL Capricornia league the Glenmore Bullettes with exceptional interest and results since. In 2014 the U13 captain Tashina Ketchup was selected in the U18 National Female Indigenous team. The clubs second selection in an All Australian Team. In 2015 & 16 Tashina was selected in the Qld Under 18 Girls team. Jayren Willie was selected in the Suns Academy and Qld U16 Boys team in 2019.
Glenmore Bulls AFC – Stenlake Park Facilities Details
Information provided by;
BG = Bernie Gottke – previous Bulls Club Secretary – 1980 to 1985, President – 1988, 1989 & 1991, Vice-President – 1990
GO = Graham Orr – previous Bulls Club Vice-President – 1991, President – 1992 to 1996, Treasurer – 1995, 1997 to 2009, 2012 to 2014
PM = Peter Moore – previous Bulls Club President, Secretary and Vice-President – 2007 to 2017
TB = Tim Borg – previous Bulls Club President – 2015 to 2018
SS = Scott Salter – Bulls Club President – 2019 to 2020, Vice-President 2017 to 2018
- Playing field area was provided by RRC from Stenlake Developers in approx. 1980 – developed by volunteers, Bulls and RRC over 1981 to 1983 (BG)
- Uni students designed canteen, small patio area and public toilet facilities – RRC supplied materials and Bulls built the facilities to the plan provided with volunteers in 1983 (BG)
- Bulls upgraded irrigation system on field with RRC in 1983 (BG)
- Bulls arranged 1st light poles and lights in 1983 (BG)
- Bulls hired portable blocks of showers and toilets in 1983 – to be able to hold rep games (BG)
- Bulls took out a $15K bank loan to build the changerooms with volunteers in 1985 – included a secure storage area between canteen and changerooms (BG)
- Humes donated concrete blocks to form grandstands (2) base in 1984 – RRC did the work (BG)
- Grandstand concrete blocks were relocated and grandstand shade structures were installed in 2009-10. Bulls got a grant for this and project managed the contractor who installed the shade structures. RRC moved the concrete blocks to form the new stands (PM)
- Bulls built the patio area in front of the canteen in 2005-06 – extending out from the original small covered area. Funds were provided by Bulls, from a grant and many materials were donated (GO)
- Bulls repaired / maintained / made minor improvements to facilities from 1985 to present with own funds (BG, PM, TB, SS)
- Bulls arranged funds from RRC, Sporting Fund Grant, AFLQ and own $ to install new lights in 2018 – project managed by Bulls (TB)
- Bulls arranged funds from Gambling Fund Grant and own $ to install new colour scoreboard in 2018 – including electric operated roller shutter for screen damage protection – project managed by Bulls (TB)
- Bulls purchased a 2nd hand large ride on mower in 2018 to keep grounds / oval maintained when needed (TB)
- Bulls arranged for 2 lockable 40 ft containers for more secure storage in 2018 – mowers, goal post pads, football equipment, chairs, tables, BBQ etc (TB)
- Bulls installed extra water connection points and taps in 2018 to allow easier watering of clubroom surrounding grass / garden areas (TB)
- Bulls funded and project managed / completed the following maintenance / repair / improvement activities in 2019 (SS);
- Sandblasted and sealed and painted covered area beams and posts
- Replaced men’s and women’s public toilet cisterns and backing boards – and repainted walls, roof and floors
- Installed goal post nets
- Completed “patch-ups” in changeroom roofs where plaster has been falling down
- Replaced all changeroom toilet and shower windows (broken glass) with perspex sheets
- Installed merchandise cupboard in Bulls changeroom
- Bulls funded and project managed / completed the following maintenance / repair / improvement activities in 2020 (SS) – limited funds (COVID-19);
- Painted entry box and timekeepers box in bulls colours
- Repaired timekeeper box floor
- Spread sand over oval
- Painted wooden seating in bulls colours
- Purchased 5 x portable gazebos
- Added new siren to scoreboard
- Repaired back of changeroom gutter (toilets / showers / umpires room)
- Added “Johnny’s Garden” and concrete edging
- Bulls funded and project managed / completed the following maintenance / repair / improvement activities in 2021 (SS);
- Replaced ceilings and patched walls in changerooms and painted and installed ceiling fans ($5K grant)
- Upgraded kitchen / canteen / adjoining storage area ($30K grant)
- Spread sand / soil over oval
- Acquired “Glenmore” the Bull
- Installed second merchandise cupboard in Bulls changeroom
- Installed new men’s and women’s Honour / Games Played boards in Bulls changeroom
- Installed new sponsors signs on playing arena fence and grandstands