Mike Steel
COMMODORE
Mike was appointed to the Board in June 2015 and elected as Commodore at the AGM in 2024. Mike has been an active member of the Townsville Yacht Club since 2005 holding various positions including Vice-Commodore from 2018 to 2024. Mike crewed on yachts at the club in the 1980’s and off the beach racing at the Townsville Sailing Club during the 1990’s. As a member of the Townsville Yacht Club, Mike held the position of Sailing Captain for two years from 2010 and since then has been an active representative on the SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week executive committee including chairing the Committee since 2018. Mike continues to be an active racing competitor with his Dufour 36 ‘Boadicca’ and is a marina berth owner at the club. Mike is a partner in RLA Finance which specialises in commercial equipment and property finance products.
Mick Malone
vice commodore
Mick was appointed to the Board as a Director in December 2013. Mick is employed as a Tug Master within the Port of Townsville. He has been an active member and volunteer for the TYC since 2005, when he fell in love with Townsville after sailing here from his hometown in southern Tasmania on his 31ft yacht. He grew up on the water and has extensive experience on both yachts and motor boats including trips to Antarctica, Sydney to Hobart races and delivering boats to many different destinations around Australia. Mick and his wife Cherie have previously volunteered on the Townsville Cruising Yacht Club committee and currently own a 42ft power catamaran, in which they are actively exploring the coastal waters of Australia.
Murray Whitehead
Secretary
Murray was appointed Secretary in June 2012 and previously held the position of Commodore for 3 years from June 2007 to June 2010 and has been a Director since 2003. Murray is a retired Environmental Planner and Manager with extensive experience in state legislation, statutory process and project management. He has been instrumental in achieving security of the clubs land and lease asset base and managing the marina construction and shore side upgrade. Besides his strong involvement in the business side of the club, Murray is a very keen supporter of strengthening the club and family participation in the sport of boating and is active in supporting School Team Sailing with his children and he is the Club’s Discover Sailing Principal. Murray and his young family are keen sailors on ‘Savanna’, specializing in cruising, island exploring and the occasional race. Murray was appointed a Life Member of the Club at the 2014 AGM.
Vicki hamilton
TREASURER
Vicki was appointed to the Board of the Townsville Yacht Club as a Director in December 2013. Between August 2016 and early 2020 Vicki held the position as Treasurer. Vicki was re-elected as Treasurer at the AGM in June 2024, is also a member of the MIRW organising committee, and manages the strategic planning process for the Club. She is a director and past Chair of JCU Early Learning Centres Pty Ltd and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Vicki worked at James Cook University (JCU) from 1995 until 2023 in various professional roles, the last position being the Director of Planning, Performance & Analytics. Vicki has had a lifelong association with the Yacht Club, is a keen and experienced sailor. She is currently owner and skipper of Akarana, winning the Commodore’s Cup in 2019 and 2021.
John Stokes
Rear Commodore / DIRECTOR
John was appointed Commodore at the AGM in 2015 and has been a Director on the Board since 2012. After 9 years as Commodore he decided to step down as Commodore. John came to Townsville in January 1993 and did his first Townsville to Dunk Island race on Waithara IV skippered by Rollo Rolleison. He has been a member since then and owned Border Reiver a Cavalier 32, Diablo a Farr 11.6 and now sails Mach 1 a Bravaria Match 38. John and his wife Betty have enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie of the Townsville Yacht Club for many years. John believes the club should be for all of us that enjoy the sea, enjoy our yachts and foster the pursuit of good seamanship. He has raced and cruised for many years and tries to understand and support the principles that make membership of our club a great pleasure.
Murray bower
Director
Murray was appointed to the Board in September 2022. A TYC member for over 15 years. Murray in integral volunteer of the TYC Sailing Start Boat, and was the Outstanding Sailing Volunteer of the Year in 2023.
Murray has just opened a local law firm and has been practising since 2016 enjoying the opportunity every day to help people in need. Murray worked in the United States from 1991 to 2003 in the IT industry and also as Chief Information Officer for a Fortune 500 company. In 2003 he cruised down the east coast of America and to the Caribbean where he ran a dive business in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In 2007 he enrolled in a Bachelor of Marine Science at James Cook University which he completed in 2009 and then went on to complete his Honours degree where his thesis was titled “Tropical Mangrove Forest and Fish Feeding: a test of the mangrove nursery ground food hypothesis”. During his studies he acquired his Formosa 56 – Recluse – from Bali which he has been refurbishing. In 2012 he enrolled in a Bachelor of Law at James Cook University which he completed in 2015 with Honours and he is currently completing a Masters degree.
MAL CHARLWOOD
Director
Mal was appointed to the Board in 2020. Mal joins us with a strong background in property, tourism and hospitality, and has owned and operated both motels, resorts and game fishing and charter boats. Mal was involved in the establishment and operation of the Country Comfort Motel chain in NSW and southern Queensland before moving to Mission Beach in the late ‘70s. Purchasing and operated a motel, which he redeveloped (as part of a joint venture) in 1985 and built the Castaways Beach Resort and Dundee Park (which was a crocodile farm and zoo). During this period Mal also identified a need for fishing boats in the tourism realm and purchased two game fishing boats and a 24m Quick Cat. From 1999 onwards Mal managed hotels for friends and has slowed down slightly and is currently a licensed Real Estate Agent and Auctioneer. Mal is also currently a Director of Townsville’s community radio station 4TTT. Mal is a berth owner and enjoys time on the water in his 21ft Bertram Caribbean.
LANCE DENBY
Director
Lance was appointed to the Board in June 2022. An active member of the Townsville Yacht Club over the last 6 years, his association with Townsville Yacht Club dates back to 1989.
Lance has run an innovations business in Townsville since 1995, specialising in satellite communications and many other new technologies. Lance brings experience from several other roles including Senior Vice President for the Nursery and Garden Industry Association of Queensland, of which he was a Board member for 5 years, Board Member with Townsville Sunrise Rotary for 8 years (including a term as President) and an appointment to the Queensland Government Protected Plant Management Advisory Committee.
Lance has been actively involved in both the social sailing and racing activities with his current boat Ostara, a 38ft Bavaria, and currently holds the position of Chairman of the Sailing Committee. Lance has a keen interest in supporting and continuing to develop the strength of the TYC, promote its activities and encourage the benefits of Club participation.
Tony Muller
Director
Tony served as Commodore from 2012 to 2015 and he is a Life Member of the Townsville Yacht Club. Tony has been a Director on the Board since 1990 and also held various Flag Officer positions as Vice Commodore from 2010 to 2012 and Treasurer from November 2000 to June 2010. He is a Certified Financial Planner and a partner of FINPAC, a local investment and insurance advisory firm, where he manages the insurance practice. Tony and his wife Selena have enjoyed their return to sailing since purchasing their yacht "Brava".
Terry price
Director
Terry was appointed to the Board in June 2015. Terry holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (BUILDING), a Diploma of Property Operations and is a licensed Electrical Fitter/Mechanic. Terry is a retired Facility Manager with 40 years experience in Facility/Property and Project management across northern Australia with Airservices Australia. He has been sailing on & off for 38 years starting on a cobra cat (The Phantom) off the beach at Pallarenda. He has been a member of Townsville Yacht Club since 2000. Being an empty nester, with his wife Rhonda, Terry is keen to get on with the joys of sailing - mainly cruising, island hopping and the occasional race in his current boat My Way.
wayne simonsen
Director
Appointed to the board in June 2023, Wayne is the owner and Company Director of Simonsen Plumbing Pty Ltd. He has a Diploma in Surveying and worked for Parkinson & Parkinson surveyors in Toowoomba from 1981 to 1983. I worked for Parkinson & Parkinson surveyors in Toowoomba from 1981 to 1983. 1983 to 1987 I completed a Plumbing apprenticeship with my then Father in Law in Toowoomba. 1987 he started flying and hold a Commercial Pilots License with over 750 hours experience in various light aircraft. Moving to Mt Isa to pursue a career in Aviation working for Stanbroke Pastoral Company. Following this I started my own Plumbing and Civil Company, before relocating to Cloncurry in 1993. Relocating the Business to Townsville in 1999 and still calls Townsville home.
Wayne is a Plumber, Drainer and Gasfitter / Commercial Pilot (Not Current). His strengths include Project management, team building and a strong work ethic.
Wayne is a Rotarian and a Freemason having been President of Daybreak Rotary club on 4 occasions and twice Master of St Andrews of Townsville Freemasons Lodge. With a passion for giving back to my community having volunteered at the Cleveland detention centre in mentoring programs they ran in the past and running work programs at the Boot Camp for Beyond Billabong, before it was closed down by the current Qld Government.
Wayne and his wife Karen have 7 children between them. Wayne's passion in life has been Rugby League and Union which he played until age 56. He loves music and played guitar in a local band the "Block of Flats" for 12 years before discovering sailing in 2016 and becoming totally hooked. Buying his own boat ,Vaya Con Dios in 2018 and is an active member of the Yacht club and TYC Sailing Committee.
OWEN STANLEY
Director
Owen was appointed to the Board in June 2017. Owen was appointed as Treasurer in February 2020. He has been a member of the Club since 1986. Initially he sailed and raced Teddy Bears Picnic, a Farr 37 and now Tap Dancer, a Farr 11.6. He and Jen have always enjoyed the friendship that the club has provided. Throughout his working life, Owen was an academic economist, but undertook consulting and managed a consulting company. At one stage he was head of a University School which employed over 100 staff, and involved managing the School in campuses in Townsville, Cairns and Singapore, and teaching arrangements in Sydney, Melbourne and China. Owen is now retired and is keen to see the club continue to develop its boating and business activities, and its friendly culture.
