Former Queensland Cricket CEO Graham Dixon Passes Away

The former Queensland Cricket Chief Executive, Graham Dixon, has passed away after a year-long battle with brain cancer.

Dixon served as QC’s leading administrator for more than 20 years, during which the Queensland Bulls claimed seven Sheffield Shield titles in an unprecedented period of success for the state.

The affable Dixon, who was 61, started as general manager in 1991 and officially retired as CEO due to his ill-health earlier this month.

He was regarded among the state’s best sporting administrators, leading the development of the Bulls’ headquarters at Allan Border Field in Albion and also assisting Cricket Australia in establishing the Centre of Excellence at the venue.

QC chairman Jim Holding said Dixon’s death would be felt deeply in the sporting community in Queensland and mourned by many in Australia and overseas.

“Graham was Queensland Cricket to many people during his time,” Holding said. “He felt a strong sense of duty towards the organisation, which meant he set the tone when it came to imposing high standards and meeting or eclipsing them.

“His dedication to developing our headquarters at Allan Border Field will be a lasting legacy while the friendships and networks he forged with current and past players, fellow administrators, employees, delegates, government at all levels and the grassroots will stand QC in good stead for years to come.”

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland also expressed his sympathy.

“I counted Graham as a respected friend of the game he loved,” Sutherland said.

A legspin bowler, Dixon captained in second grade and appeared in every grade except sixth for Sandgate-Redcliffe.

“His actions endorsed his words, too,’ Holding said. ‘I don’t know of too many CEOs who would, almost without fail, be up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning to go down to Deagon to help take the covers off the pitches and assist with preparing the grounds for the day’s play.”