After completing a successful retailing, journalistic and management consultancy career in Brisbane from 1967 to 1990, during which he established Queensland’s first celebrity management company Frontline Celebrities, which managed the performing futures of over 70 high profile political, media and sporting Queensland personalities. In 1990 Richard settled in Redcliffe to retire. However, that was short-lived as he joined the local radio station 99.7FM and became a regular broadcaster over the next few years. As an environmental activist he headed a successful campaign to ban fish farming in Moreton Bay and established groups supporting the protection of the Moreton Bay dugongs and local wildlife in general. He established `The Mavis Filmer Award` for this purpose.
In 2003 he was awarded an Australia Day Cultural Award and latterly was given a Life Fellowship of the Human Resources Institute of Australia and entered into their `Hall of Fame`. In 2005 he established the Redcliffe Arts and Entertainment Awards which promoted the local performing arts.
Although unsuccessful with his original concept of establishing a School of Excellence, called
`The Brothers Gibb Performing Arts Academy` for local young performing artists, hosted by the
Bee Gees, he was in part instrumental in bringing to fruition, Bee Gees Way in the Redcliffe CBD.
He is a collegiate voting member of Australia’s premier Helpmann Awards.
Always focussing on the local community, he has published 3 books of fictional short stories
using illustrations by local artists. He researched, co- wrote, directed and produced a fictional
radio serial, `The Dugongs of Macarthur Bay` as well as three feature length history based
humorous mockumentary movies, using local community members only as crews and actors.
He continued his journalistic career by writing for the Redcliffe and Bayside Herald with a
`Culture Vulture` column, which ran for 21 years. In 2013, Richard gathered together a group
of local business people with the purpose of highlighting to the public, the rich history of
Redcliffe, from locals who have contributed to its future. Thus the `Wall of Fame` was born in
Redcliffe’s Jetty Arcade. The wall now contains over 120 individual histories.
During the recent Covid pandemic, local people appeared worried and depressed, so he
decided to design and publish online a crazily humorous newspaper called `The Redcliffe Rave` and invited local people to contribute to it. Although it only ran for 15 fortnightly editions, it proved popular with its audience.
In the past, he has held the positions of Patron of the Redcliffe Chamber of Commerce,
President of the Redcliffe Arts Council, of the Gayundah Preservation Society and Redcliffe
Wildlife Preservation Group. He founded and was first President of the Seaside Arts Hub,
which was dedicated to stimulating interest in the work of local artists as was the Redcliffe Creative Community of which he was Vice President. He was the founder and facilitator of the initial Dementia Friendly Redcliffe Group in 2015. and a number of other community associations, including Vice President of the Community Radio Station 99.7FM
A 2019 portrait of Richard Lancaster by artist Monica Batiste.
Richard Lancaster is listed on the wall of the Redcliffe Wall of Fame:
A collection of portrait and information honouring the achievements of individuals who have influenced and shaped Redcliffe. The collection is in the Jetty Arcade at 139-141 Redcliffe Parade.
For a complete list of people who appear on the wall click on the following blog post:
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