1968 was a great year for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls. Their original clubhouse was opened, they won the Woolworths pre season knockout competition and the first cheer squad was formed. The Woollies competition as it was known was held over the Easter weekend.
There was a prize of $100 being offered to the club with the best supporters and at short notice a group of approximately ten girls decided to form a cheer squad. This was a group made up of players wives, girlfriends and friends. The $100 was won by the girls from Wynnum and from that moment the cheer squad was born.
The squad members were Lou McKinnon, Jenny Moloney, Liz Heymer, Carol Paroz, Jan Seymore, Helen Curtis, Dina Stone, Zan Baker, Glenda Smith and Denise Shepherd. This was the first Cheer Squad in Queensland and the only squad for the 1968 Brisbane Rugby League competition.
The officials at Lang Park gave permission for the girls to utilise the board room as a change room and also relaxed the laws so they were able to sit inside the fence on the sideline.
The girls travelled to all Wynnum Manly games and attracted a lot of attention during the season. Some of the attention was not so friendly and they had to at times endure verbal abuse from the supporters in the crowd and they were not allowed to retaliate. Most of the girls also remained for the 1969 season before retiring, they were replaced by other young ladies who were interested in carrying on the tradition.
Story Source: Liz Heymer
Photo Source: Helen Curtis & Laurel Craig