Profile of Col Brandon (Snr).



Col was born in Brisbane on 26 March 1917. He left school when he was 13 and got a job with a wireless repair shop and next he helped in his father's shoe repair shop at Woolloongabba. Col was in the army in Townsville during World War 2 amongst his duties were shoe repairs and hair cutting. After discharge from the army, Col continued in the shoe repairing business and for a time operated ten shops around Brisbane.

Col and Dot were married on 14 February 1942 and happily celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in February 2006. They had two sons, Col (Jnr) and Trevor, both of whom Col introduced to squash. Later on, Col and Dot enjoyed watching their Grandchildren, Joshua and Nicole grow up.

Col was a committee member of the Footwear Repairers Association of Queensland for many years and travelled interstate to the National Association's annual conferences.

Col was always a keen sportsman. When he was young he played football at school and cricket. He enjoyed deep-sea fishing off Moreton Island in 1950's and was a keen golfer with the Junction Hotel Social Golf Club in the 1960's.

Col was invited to join the Boomerang Squash Club when it was being formed and was the club President for many years. Later on he held the position of Patron of the Boomerang/Gabba Squash Club. He enthusiastically played in lower grade competition and was passionate about the club's social activities. He and Dot derived much pleasure and enjoyed the company of the club's many fine members.

Col's Record at the Boomerang/Gabba Club is below.


Col was President of the Squash Club from 1963 to 1976.

Col was Patron of the Club from 1976 to 1989.

Col was awarded Life Membership of the Squash Club in 1972.

The Col Brandon Trophy was presented from 1968/69 - 1980 to the men's team with the best incentive points for the season.

1975/76 Summer Season Col was successful in the E4 grade, his team mates were Alan Griffiths, Paul Masterson, Peter Prickett, Alf Hogan, Ken McGann and Barry Remfrey.

Though Col may have only been successful in winning the one pennant, he told the selectors of the time, he would just like to be made captain in a low grade, and always play with a different group of new members each season, and give new members an idea on the rules of squash. In most cases if the team was playing away Col used to meet the other team members at the club and the team went in Col's car to where they were playing.

It would be impossible to estimate how many new members started under Col's guidance, but there were would have been quite a few. Most Thursday nights Col and Mrs Brandon used to come down to the squash courts to watch the members go through their paces.

Both Col's sons played in the club for many years, young Col was a foundation member of the club and was runner up to Richard Arnold in the first Club Championships in 1963. Young Col also won 3 pennants in his time at the club.

Col's other son Trevor was also a member of the club for several years, and in his time at the club, Trevor won 2 pennants. In 1976/77 Trevor was a member of the M6 team that won his Dad's Teams Incentive Trophy.

Col used to enjoy telling a few jokes at club functions, and had his joke column in the Puntimal. This joke was taken out of the November 1977 edition.

Joe. How come you were born in Cairns ?

Bill. I wanted to be near my Mother.

Col passed away in May 2006.