Bounce! Grassroots to Glory film

[Length: 18 minutes 15 seconds. Date: 2025]

Bounce! celebrates Sunshine Coast sports heroes as they share their inspiring journeys from local fields to national fame. A tribute to the ball sports we love and the communities that shape champions.

Astonishing stories unearthed about the history of ball sports on the Sunshine Coast. Did you know local Wilf Bratton played in the first ever socceroos team? Hockey was big in Kenilworth, rugby league was part of community life, and there was tense tennis rivalry between Buderim and Nambour.

Interviewees

0:00 Lorna Whelan - Close Knit - Hockey
3:10 Kevin Briggs - Poetic Banter - Tennis
5:45 Gordon Plowman - Soldier Socceroo - Soccer
8:01 Don Fewquandie - Cane Culture - Rugby league
11:22 Rex Eggmolesse - Prop Singer - Rugby league

Produced by Chris Peckham, Source Media

Arts and Heritage Levy Funded

Cane Culture - Rugby League with Don Fewquandie

[Length: 5 minutes 32 seconds. Date: 2025]

Produced by Chris Peckham, Source Media.

Arts and Heritage Levy Funded

Prop Singer - Rugby League history with Rex Eggmolesse

Rex Eggmolesse recalls his days as a player in the Woombye “Souths” rugby league team. The team was made up of cane cutters and council workers. Australian representative fullback Ray Laird was captain/coach, and led the team to premiership victory in 1971, 1974 and 1975. Rex performs the team song just as he did after a game in the dressing sheds at Nambour Showground.

[Length: 5 minutes 32 seconds. Date: 2025]

Produced by Chris Peckham, Source Media.

Close Knit - Hockey history with Lorna Whelan

Lorna Whelan is the youngest daughter of the Pickering family from Kenilworth. Lorna shares how hockey became such a popular sport in Kenilworth. Local players were known for their excellent stick skills due to practicing on rough ground. If they ran out of sticks at practice, players used pick handles. Many team members played for the Queensland representative team.

[Length: 3 minutes 32 seconds. Date: 2025]

Produced by Chris Peckham, Source Media.

Poetic Banter - Tennis history with Kevin Briggs

Kevin Briggs shares stories of the early days of tennis in Buderim, and the good natured rivalry between local teams.

[Length: 3 minutes 05 seconds. Date: 2025]

Produced by Chris Peckham, Source Media.

Soldier Socceroo - Soccer history with Gordon Plowman

Gordon Plowman’s father built the Flaxton sawmill and spoke fondly of his neighbour and friend, Wilf Bratton, who played in the inaugural Australian soccer team.

[Length: 2 minutes 55 seconds. Date: 2025]

Produced by Chris Peckham, Source Media.

These films are an initiative of the Sunshine Coast Council Arts and Heritage Levy.