International Women’s Day: Marlene Newcombe

Marlene Newcombe’s business acumen, forged over 50 years in the motoring industry, has earnt her respect but also a spot on the Dolphins NRL board.

She’s the only woman to have a seat at the table and was also recently presented with life membership of the Redcliffe Dolphins Rugby League Football Club in recognition of her contribution to grassroots rugby league over many decades.

We shine a light on her achievements this International Women’s Day.

For more than 50 years, Village Motors has been selling and servicing new and used vehicles in Brisbane and the Moreton Bay region.

Marlene was one of the first female motor dealers in Australia and has been involved in the industry since she was 18 years of age.

Village Motors has supported the Redcliffe Dolphins for more than 20 years and now also has a partnership with the NRL club.

Marlene says her association with the club dates back to when her son David played in an under-7s team.

She was appointed to the Dolphins NRL board in October 2021 in the wake of the Australian Rugby League Commission awarding the club the 17th NRL licence on October 13, 2021.

“I was proud to be asked. There’s a lot of other women out there that could have asked to be on the board,” Marlene says.

“I think it was very hard work (to get the licence and build the organisation) and the club has done a lot of ground work to get where they are. It just didn’t happen overnight.

“They certainly know what they’re doing. It’s an eye-opener … everyone says it’s an old boys club, but it’s not. Those people have got so much experience and you listen to them and go ‘wow’, especially in a board meeting. They know what’s going on.”

Marlene has been made a life member of the Redcliffe Dolphins Rugby League Football Club – just the third woman to receive the honour in the club’s history.

The announcement was made at the club’s annual general meeting on February 7, 2024, and presented a badge to her at this year’s AGM last month.

“I’m very proud to be accepted in because it’s very hard to receive life membership. Being the third woman ever to be part of it … it was very good,” she says.

Previous female recipients were Dr Elizabeth Richards and Dawn Hill.

For Marlene, community connection has always been central to what she does in business and in life.

“The community is very important, always has been, to Village Motors and the Newcombe family. You go to a Dolphins game and you know everybody. It’s typical of Redcliffe,” she says.

“I like to invest in the community, employing locals when I can.”

Marlene is very optimistic about the Dolphins NRL team’s prospects this season.

She says she couldn’t do what she does without the support of her close group of friends and loyal staff.

“The fourth generation of the Newcombe family is now working with us, my two grandsons. It’s great to have them involved,” Marlene says.