The boys put the feelers out and it wasn’t long before some of the best-known players across Brisbane had rallied to their cause. A steering committee was soon established, comprising Lyn, Errol and David Clark. Not long after, a presentation to Castlemaine XXXX Brewery secured the burgeoning club’s first sponsorship deal, and marked the beginning of a prosperous relationship which continues to this day.
The club became legally constituted, with Errol Smith as President, Lyn Jones as Club Captain, Geoff Hellins as Secretary, and Bill Crawford as Treasurer, and the relationship with the Queensland Rugby Union was solidified at last.
The race to Sydney 1983 was in full swing. Everything from fundraising efforts, the introduction of the first club jerseys (XXXXs red and gold were chosen, plus the traditional numbers of the back were replaced with the now iconic XXXX), and visits from Golden Oldie top man and soon-to-become Sydney 1983 Director, John Howard, and World President, Tom Johnson from New Zealand were on track.
A contingent of 70 made it to Sydney in the end and they had a ‘whale of a time’, including setting the record for consuming over 6000 cans of beer during the week! The XXXX Goldies had most definitely arrived on the Golden Oldies scene in earnest.