Kicking Coast goals
Paul Wyatt passes away, aged 68
FORMER Southport Sharks chief Paul Damian Wyatt has been remembered as a passionate advocate for sport and the Gold Coast, devoted to helping the city kick goals.
Mr Wyatt, who had been ill with a chest infection, died unexpectedly in his sleep on Sunday night, age 68.
A lifelong Collingwood fan, Mr Wyatt spent 15 years overseeing Southport Sharks’ transition from Fankhauser Reserve social facility into one of the most profitable club operations in Australia.
The passionate Aussie rules lover was at the forefront of Southport’s bid to win an AFL licence when it first began in 1996, pursuing the exercise with vigour until his time as chief Shark ended in 2008.
His interest in and passion for sport wasn’t confined to AFL – Mr Wyatt served as a member of the Stadium Feasibility Group, was a director of the board of the Gold Coast NRL Bid Team, served on the Gold Coast Titans Community Foundation Board, was involved with the Australia China Foundation, went on to serve as CEO of Rugby Gold Coast and was part of the team that initiated the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games bid.
A former Victorian Police detective at Northcote CIB, Mr Wyatt resigned from the force in 1979 to run pubs in Castlemaine and Sale.
He and his then wife Pauline Wyatt – parents to daughters Narelle and Karlee and sons Lance and Bryce – moved to the Coast in 1986.
Narelle Wyatt, who worked with her father at Southport Sharks, said he was an extremely humble man.
“My dad certainly was a passionate Gold Coaster who had amazing visions for sport on the Coast,” she said.
Mr Wyatt moved across town from Nerang RSL to Southport Sharks in 1992, overseeing the rise of one of the state’s top licensed venues and earning himself a law degree from Bond University along the way.
Colleague and longtime friend Paul Broughton OAM, who served with Mr Wyatt on the NRL Bid Team board, said he was a passionate Gold Coast personality.
“Wherever he went he expounded its virtues,” he said.
Mr Wyatt ran for council in 2008, standing against Dr Daphne McDonald in Division 13 on a Unite GC ticket with Rob Molhoek.
Mr Molhoek said Mr Wyatt worked to bring national codes of sport to the Gold Coast to help it move from being a village to a city.
“Paul always felt having an AFL team and an NRL team and a rugby franchise playing at the highest levels was good for tourism and business and a great way to bring the city together.”