Fire chief to depart at season’s end
The JCU Townsville Fire has today announced that General Manager Richard Goodbody will depart the club at season’s end.
Having joined the Fire five years ago, Mr Goodbody has been at the helm during the club’s championship victories in 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2017/18.
He has also played a key role in a number of key off-court partnerships including James Cook University, Australian Army and the North Queensland Cowboys.
Having previously headed up the media departments at Bowls Australia and Cricket Victoria, Mr Goodbody has accepted a senior role at Racing Queensland and will relocate to Brisbane with his young family in the near future.
Inaugural championship-winning captain, Rachael McCully, who is presently the club’s Operations Manager, will serve as acting GM.
Chair Michelle Morton commended Mr Goodbody on his accomplishments at the Fire and said the club would soon commence advertising for his replacement.
“Richard has been an outstanding General Manager having worked tirelessly to achieve exceptional results both on and off the court and is leaving the club in an excellent position to continue to thrive and succeed,” Mrs Morton said.
During his tenure in the Chemist Warehouse WNBL, Goodbody played an active role in increasing membership, attendances, commercial revenue and media exposure within the league.
He also worked diligently with the three tiers of government to develop community programs that would assist the city’s social cohesion.
The 36-year-old thanked the Fire for the opportunity to serve the club over the past five seasons.
“It’s been an incredible honour – and privilege – to serve as the General Manager of one of the nation’s pre-eminent women’s sporting clubs,” Mr Goodbody said.
“I never envisioned that we would enjoy the success that we have nor impact the community in much the same manner.
“I’d like to thank Michelle and the board for the support they have afforded me over the past five years – it has been nothing short of exceptional – and the relationships that I have developed with our stakeholders including our commercial partners, members and fans.
“I’d also like to recognise the players and coaches – in particular Claudia (Brassard), Mark (Wrobel), Suzy (Batkovic) and Rachael (McCully) – for the way in which they have led our club during this incredible era.
“I look forward to watching the Fire go onto bigger and better things in the near future.”
Click here to apply for the role of JCU Townsville Fire General Manager.