With a vision to connect Queensland communities to leisure, it’s been a remarkable twenty years since QLD State Manager Dan Cullen singlehandedly transitioned into Belgravia Leisure’s very first Queensland venue in 2004.
The year after, the company won a tender to manage five aquatic venues in Pine Rivers (now Moreton Bay), and it has been onwards and upwards ever since, with Belgravia Leisure Queensland becoming the fastest growing leisure and tourism operator in the state.
With over 1000 staff now working across a portfolio of close to 50 aquatic, leisure and tourist park venues alongside 18 contract partners servicing up to 20,000 learn to swim, fitness, swimming and squad members, it is evident that Dan and his cohort of local team members never waver from their vision of connecting communities to leisure.
Pivotal to the success story has been the team members, some of whom have been along for the ride since the Pine Rivers contract was won nineteen years ago. Cheryl McLennan (now QLD Aquatics Manager), Russell Grenenger (now QLD Regional Manager) and Michael Fox (now Moreton Bay Area Manager) all began their journey at this point and have worked alongside Dan to create the business into what it is today.
QLD State Manager Dan Cullen reflects on the journey.
“I’ve enjoyed being a part of numerous highlights over the last twenty years, all of which have shaped where we are as a business. Personally, some highlights include Greenfield venue openings in Cairns, Gympie and Mackay, Belgravia and Moreton Bay Council’s $3m redevelopment of the health club at Albany Creek Leisure Centre, winning the ALFAQ QLD Venue of the Year for Gympie ARC in 2018, expanding into the tourist park sector as Belgravia Pro and of course winning the Access and Inclusion Excellence Award in the Moreton Bay Business Awards in 2023.
“I’m also incredibly proud of the whole team, as without their passion, this would not have been possible. Every day, each of every one of them does their best to serve the communities in which we operate, and for that, I could not be more grateful.”
Since Belgravia Leisure’s humble Queensland beginnings two decades ago, the team have been working hard to keep Queenslanders healthy and active, giving back to the very communities that have trusted them to manage their community leisure assets. Here are just a few notable contributions;
- Delivered over 1,000 water safety talks to pre-school children
- Provided learn to swim lessons to over half a million children
- Recruited refugees and employed them as customer service officers and lifeguards
- Introduced digital concierge app Cerge to assist patrons with a disability on site
- Ran an appeal for Uganda, reaching out to the community to source baby and mother items
- Ran various flood appeals and has served as the hub for the delivery of flood appeal items and sending them off to flood victims
- Participated in Operation Christmas Shoebox Appeal for five years; collecting Christmas donations for the less fortunate and helping at the warehouse to sort items
- Attended countless open days, fetes, and shopping centres to promote active living for health clubs and swimming lessons
- Hosted a range of community events including State and National Underwater hockey championships, State and National Water Polo Championships
- Arranged for the cast of H2O – along with their mermaid tails – to attend a mermaid party for a terminally ill swim student Jessica
- Hosting national swim teams on training camps including the Australian Dolphins and the Australian Tri Team
- Celebrated Cheryl McLennan, Queensland Aquatic Manager, receiving the Outstanding Supporters Award at SWIMCON 2023 for her dedication and passion for swimming
- Belgravia Swim Team Members winning Gold Medals at Rio Paralympic Games
- Applauded Brendan Dowling, head coach of Albany Creek, selected to be Coach on the Australian Seal Deaf Team to compete in 2023, & returning with 6 medals
- Hosting 2018 Para Pan Pac Swimming Championships at Tobruk Memorial Pool
Belgravia Leisure in Queensland remains committed to diversity, access and inclusion, providing recreational opportunities for everyone and laying the foundation for the next twenty years of connecting communities to leisure.
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