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   John McGinnis Williams - speedboat champion
A Winning Beginning

John McGinnis Williams was born in Warragul, Victoria in 1882.
After completing a woodturning apprenticeship in Melbourne, he extended his interest in timber to plywood.
In 1915 John became the first manufacturer of plywood in Queensland when he began operating a mill at Stanley Street, South Brisbane. Here he peeled Hoop pine for 3-ply after he designed and constructed the first Australian lathe to cut rotary veneers.
After establishing successful plywood and veneers mills in Queensland, John, known to his friends as 'Mac' and 'J Mc G', pursued his interest in speedboat racing.

Mac owned several speedboats - Awaya, Miss Coorparoo, Miss Liberty and Miss Brisbane.

Photo: John 'Mac' Williams in possibly his first speedboat, Awaya c. 1922 (Courtesy Mrs M Williams)

 

Photo: Awaya racing on the Brisbane River (Courtesy Mrs M Williams)
 
Photo: J McG Williams won the Henley on Brisbane Speed Boat Championship in Miss Liberty on 13th October 1923 (Courtesy Mrs M Williams)