Straun Beamish, a 54-year-old Aussie Rules player, has received the Bunnings Legend of the Tongs local hero award for his dedication to the Wilston Grange AFL club.
Mr Beamish grew up playing AFL in Melbourne, and after moving to Brisbane in 2000 joined the Wilston Grange Gorillas as a player, fast becoming a pillar of the team.
“I started off as a player and ran around and had a bit of a kick, and I still play with the Masters [an over 45s league],” he said.
Mr Beamish has become ever more involved with the community over his 26 years of playing, making strong friendships and building up the community around him.
In November 2025, he was diagnosed with lymphoma and began chemotherapy, having to withdraw from playing.
“It all happened pretty quickly. I had six rounds of chemotherapy spread over a five-month cycle,” Mr Beamish said.
“I’ve played almost 20 years straight in Masters football and that came to an end, this year I just had to step aside.”
Despite not being able to play, Mr Beamish maintained a strong presence at the club, helping run the barbeque fundraisers and engaging with the community as a way of staying active and connected during his fight with cancer.
“My wife advised me that I should tell people and be really open about it because those people are there to support you,” he said.
Bolstered by friends and family, Mr Beamish has successfully beaten cancer, being cleared by his doctors in May.
For his resilience, involvement, and commitment to his club, Mr Beamish was nominated for the Bunnings’ Legend of the Tongs award.
This award is aimed at celebrating those who go above and beyond for their AFL clubs.
In week two of the competition, he was named one of five winners and awarded a new barbeque setup for his club.
“I got this phone call from Bunnings saying that I was one of the winners and that was fantastic. The club’s well aware of it and they’re very grateful,” he said.
Now in remission, Mr Beamish remains a strong part of his community and looks forward to continuing his legacy as a rock for the Wilston Grange Gorillas.
