July 31, 2025
The annual Dinner With The Champions filled Kingaroy Town Hall again with sports fans last Saturday night.
The event, organised by former Test quick bowler Carl Rackemann and a small committee, always attracts top-tier guest speakers from the sporting world.
This year’s guests were Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis, Olympic swimmer Emily Seebohm and former Maroon Trevor Gillmeister.
The event is a major fundraiser for the South Burnett’s Relay For Life’s campaign for Cancer Council Queensland, with a large multi-draw raffle, a silent auction and a live auction (see below).
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Jason Akermanis shared the story of how he got into Australian Rules football (mainly because “rugby union hurt too much”.)
He was signed up by the Brisbane Bears when he was still in Year 12 at Nudgee College.
His first game was in Round 4 in 1994.
Akermanis’ career included 10 years with the Brisbane Lions and three years with the Western Bulldogs.
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Emily Seebohm OAM was part of the Australian swimming team at the Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic games.
During her career, Emily won three Olympic gold medals, five World Championship gold medals and seven Commonwealth Games gold medals.
Seebohm also spoke about her experiences in “I’m A Celebrity – Get Me Out Of Here” (just after she returned from her fourth Olympics in Tokyo) and her exploits in “SAS Australia” this year.
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Trevor “The Axe” Gillmeister talked about his rugby league career, and his introduction to life in Sydney.
He said league had taught him respect “not just about footy, but also about life”.
Gillmeister said he never played rep football as a young man, going straight from Under 18s to playing in the Brisbane Rugby League competition for Norths Devils.
In 1986, Arthur Beetson invited him to come to Sydney to play for Eastern Suburbs.
After football, he took part in a fundraising walk in 2014 from Townsville to Brisbane to raise awareness about asbestos-related diseases after his father died from mesothelioma.
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Auction Results
LIVE AUCTION
- 12 x Relay For Life purple cricket balls – $125 each
- Bulls Masters tour tickets for two people – $1700
- Jason Akermanis signed jumper – $700
- Two tickets to Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Brisbane – $1600
- All About Skin voucher – $700
- Two tickets to Day 3 of the Australia v England Ashes Test match – $1500
- Autographed 2007 ARL Kangaroos jersey – $900
- 10 x commemorative shirts from the dinner – $270 each
- Signed ARL training jersey – $800
- Four tickets to Eagle Farm or Doomben races – $2010
- Signed Dolphins swim team from 2018 Pan Pacs – $750
- Unique half and half, Australia One Day / Brisbane Lions jersey – $710
- 2 x Bunnings axes, autographed by “The Axe” Trevor Gillmeister – $850 each
- 2 tickets as guests of Qld Cricket in the Brisbane Heat – $1620
- 10 x autographed Emily Seebohm swimming caps – $120 each
SILENT AUCTION
- 2x 2017 Geoff Merrill Shiraz signed by three champions – $350 each
- Framed photo with the champions – $950
- Your Big Party at Carrollee Hotel – $1100
- Signed Donald Bradman print – $1300
- Harvey Norman print “Heaven’s Pier” – $280
- Harvey Norman print “Shellanta” – $220
- Four tickets to international T20 match – $875
- Four tickets to Dolphins v Titans – $500
- Advertising package – $750
- Relay For Life cricket ball signed by Alan Border – $300
- Four tickets to Broncos v Dolphins – $650
Thank you for the great support for the event – it is very much appreciated.