Lawrie Fabian

Lawrie currently lives in Brisbane, swims to keep fit, competes in Master’s and fulfills the role of Manager, Personal Development, with the Queensland Academy of Sport (leads the Talent/Transfer/ Identification program with the Academy. I interviewed him for the Glamourheads 20-year Anniversary history project.

Lawrie had contacts with Team Vic, the LGBT sports organisation in Victoria promoting Victorian LGBT participation in the Sydney 2002 Gay Games. As a keen swimmer and LGBT community member with extensive sporting connections and a background in physical education and coaching, he initiated a swimmer information session and try- out for these Gay Games, held on March 15th, 2021 at Prahran Pool. Robbie Leslie, Anke Kohl, Warrick Glen, Ryan Van Lar were at this first session. Swimmers were keen to train together with Lawrie coaching and regular sessions at Wesley were organised by Lawrie, with up to 30 attending. The idea of our club name and glamours shark logo came from Ryan Van Lar and Dane McManus. Lawrie wanted to ensure that all swimmers were encouraged and supported in their goals – to gain fitness and skills development, to be challenged, have fun, enjoy social and community connection in a safe, LGBT affirming environment and to compete and achieve personal and team bests. To recognise the swimmer’s various successes during the year Lawrie and the first Glams committee organised the inaugural Golden Goggles Awards night, held latter in 2001 at the Carlton Football club, with over 100 club members, their partners and friends attending. Lawrie used his connections with CFC to secure the venue, and his friend Nicole Livingstone presented awardees on the night as the Patron of The Glamourheads. At this time Lawrie’s full- time job was the Player Development Manager of CFC.

Lawrie coached the club to perform at the Sydney 2002 Gay Games and many team members swum personal bests, won medals and had a wonderful time. Lawrie told me that he only got to spend one night at the Sydney Games because he was working with coach David Parkin at the time during the AFL draft. After seven years of coaching, Lawrie left Melbourne for athlete development work in Queensland. He certainly left an enduring legacy, well summed up by Anke: “as the father of the Glams who generously instilled a particular team spirit in which all cared for and looked after each other, motivated and encouraged different skills levels and fitness, social and competitive outcomes”. Lawrie loves seeing how our club has grown and its abiding spirit of ‘generosity and inclusion’.