Men of League Foundation Issue #73

Foundation Issue 73 – 2019

Lifting Laura’s spirits The unstoppable ‘Buck’ Rogers Joining the Tigers in acts of kindness NRL stars become our ambassadors

CARING FOR THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

In this edition 6 8 10 12 14 16 19 20 24 26 28 31 34 35 36 38 40 41 42 52 62

Laura Shakespeare Craig Bellamy boardroom lunch Graham ‘Buck’ Rogers Tom and Liam Duggan New Ipswich committee Membership survey Shontelle Stowers Mark Coyne Larry Peacock Graham and Ron Roberts Our new NRL playing ambassadors Tweed’s annual lunch Leone Smith Welcoming Steeden New offices, new staff members Tigers’ acts of kindness $1 million wellbeing spend Vic’s mental health first-aid Our new partnerships manager Ronald McDonald House Enfield Federals

Plus the regulars 22 Events Calendar 32 Around the Grounds 44 Tributes 48 NRL Wellbeing & Education 50 Helping Hand 53 Committee news Editor: Neil Cadigan (magazine@menofleague.com) Design: Nine Ounces Ph: (02) 4311 2266 | nineounces.com Deadline for next edition: 11 June, 2019

From the Chairman Professor the Honourable Stephen Martin

2019, a new year with endless possibilities for what should be rugby league’s charity of choice.

Following what can only be described as a breathtaking year in 2018, 2019 will be an exciting challenge to replicate and grow upon. It is often said that success breeds success, and that has been the case with the number of deserving people from the rugby league community that we have assisted. But to sustain this effort, all funding sources have to be explored and prosecuted.

The 2019 membership period has come upon us already and I thank our loyal members for their renewals and ongoing donations. Without you, we would not be able to stand on our own two legs and I cannot thank you enough for your generous support.

To our new members, thank you for your selfless decision to give a strong sense of hope to those within the rugby league community who have fallen on hardship. I warmly welcome you to the Men of League Foundation.

The new appointments to Foundation staff in Queensland state manager

National Board of Directors Chairman: Professor The Honourable Stephen Martin Deputy Chair: Helen Wood Grant

Andrew Blucher and national partnerships manager Debbie Rowley are particularly exciting.

Andrew brings a resounding success within the sports marketing and commercial sectors, whilst a fulltime staff member promoting the Foundation’s brand and pursing partnership opportunities has unlimited potential. I wish both Andrew and Debbie the best of luck in their roles.

It would be remiss of me to not mention our new office within the state-of-the-art New South Wales Rugby League’s Centre of Excellence.

The facility is excellent and it will ensure we have close proximity to some of our key stakeholders.

We have already seen our dedicated committee members thrust themselves into the new year within the first two and a half months and I look forward to them carrying this enthusiasm for all events and fundraising efforts throughout the rest of 2019.

I wish everyone the very best for 2019 alongside this remarkable organisation.

Directors: Brad Howell, Alan Sullivan QC, Geoff Thoroughgood OAM & Darryl Van de Velde

Patron: The Hon. John Fahey AC Honorary President: Ron Coote AM

Chief Executive Officer National Office/NSW Office NSW State Manager Stephen Lowndes – stephen.lowndes@menofleague.com Bruce Walker – bruce.walker@menofleague.com Level 3, NSWRL Centre of Excellence National Manager Wellbeing QLD State Manager 14 Dawn Fraser Avenue, Sydney Jessica Macartney – jessica.macartney@menofleague.com Andrew Blucher – andrew.blucher@menofleague.com Olympic Park, Sydney NSW 2127 Financial Controller Membership & Database Executive PO Box 7049 Silverwater NSW 2128 Tony Luck – tony.luck@menofleague.com Paula Feagaiga – paula.feagaiga@menofleague.com P: 02 8756 7180 Finance Assistant QLD Wellbeing Manager E: admin@menofleague.com James Rayment – james.rayment@menofleague.com Mark Bunting – mark.bunting@menofleague.com QLD Office National Manager Membership & Fundraising QLD Administration QRL Central, 83 Castlemaine Street, Vanessa Bolzan – vanessa.bolzan@menofleague.com Belinda Perry – belinda.perry@menofleague.com Milton QLD 4064 Marketing & Events Coordinator QLD Events Manager PO Box 1217, Milton QLD 4064 Christina Rallis – christina.rallis@menofleague.com Jodie Watson – jodie.watson@menofleague.com P: 07 3367 6080 National Manager Administration Media & Marketing – Nine Ounces E: qldadmin@menofleague.com Kellie-Ann Furner – kellie-ann.furner@menofleague.com Alison Steele – asteele@nineounces.com National Partnerships Manager Debbie Rowley – debbie.rowley@menofleague.com Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community 3

Your Men of League Foundation local contacts New South Wales

South Coast President: Chris Burke 0400 269 774 Secretary: Carol Weller 0408 478 043

Goondiwindi President: Ernie Silcock 0429 724 699 Secretary: Peter Sullivan 0427 653 679

Southern Monaro President: John Bedingfield Secretary: Tom Herbert 0419 215 103

Gympie President: Ross Groundwater 0408 825 466 Secretary: Greg Pountney 0432 397 974

Southern Sydney President: Terry Hughes 0447 488 052 Secretary: Bruce Thompson 0419 475 465

Ipswich President: Pat O’Doherty - 0400 797 541 Secretary: Anthony Breeze – 0417 927 449

Sydney Metro President: Henry Morris OAM 0418 115 706 Secretary: Seamus O'Connell 0411 126 060

Mackay President: Garry Craig 0409 766 334 Secretary: Alf Abdullah 0417 752 694

Tuggerah Lakes President: Neville Glover 0403 011448 Secretary: Matt Smith 0407 924 188

Moreton President: Peter Affleck 0414 445 630 Secretary: Terry Webb 0400 715 715

Tweed District President: Greg Hodge 0407 275 718 Secretary: Tom Cassin 0407 457 661

Rockhampton President: Dominique McGregor 0411 446 939 Secretary: Stan Smith 0403 409 569

Upper Hunter President: Paul Medd 0409 482 297 Secretary: Erica Edwards 0429 485 121

Roma President: Owen Lingard 0400 496 507 Secretary: Jason Coonan 0419 729 857

Mid West President: Royce George 0408 635 011

Western Region President: Martin Cook Secretary: Ross Tighe 0428 289 324

Sunshine Coast President: Don Oxenham 0409 849 161 Secretary: Barry Marsden 0402 654 231

Newcastle Hunter President: Garry Leo 0400 421 767 Secretary: Peter Corcoran 0413 453 473

Western Sydney President: Steve Winbank Secretary: Garry O'Donnell 0418 699 257

Toowoomba Region President: Tony Coonan 0407 124 302 Secretary: Georgie McDermid

Canberra Monaro President: Noel Bissett 0407 597 533 Secretary: Steven Troth 0407 182 410 Central Coast President: Eddy Johnson Secretary: Trevor Andrews 0412 694 857 Central West President: John Lasker 02 6852 2477 Secretary: Norm Cook 0458 658 827 Far South Coast President: Colin Clarke 0412 764 740 Secretary: Sheldon Wykes Illawarra President: Peter Fitzgerald 0412 263 733 Secretary: Bob McKellar 0408 393 040 Macarthur/Sth Highlands President: Ron McEntee 0448 118 789 Secretary: Stephen Hazelton 0450 010 770 Mid North Coast President: Brian Atherton 0427 523 818 Secretary: Kevin Rayment 0427 533 644

North Coast President: Peter Barrett 0414 227 068 Secretary: Wendy Barrett 0419 894 432 North West President: Don Pascoe 0477 132 456 Secretary: John Campbell 0408 421 065 Northern Rivers President: Phil Chesham 0402 305 498 Secretary: Tony Cicchinelli 02 6621 3096 Northern Sydney President: Trevor Bailey 0414 843 600 Secretary: Jim Phelan 0419 414 759 Penrith President: Alex McKenzie 0414 330 651 Secretary: Adam Przybyla 0407 847 312 Port Stephens President: Chris Kelly 0418 652 857 Secretary: Peter Arnold 0404 872 018 Riverina President: Kel Tilden 0457 319 700 Acting Secretary: Ian Lloyd 0457 850 384 4

Men of League Foundation

Townsville President: Mark Williams 0409 894 427 Secretary: Terry Feeney 0488 000 899

QLD & Affiliated States Brisbane President: Ian Gatenby 0412 038 013 Secretary: Vance Rennie 07 3350 6436

Bundaberg District Secretary: Greg Pershouse 0416 242 566 Central Highlands President: Mick Roach 0439 079 686 Secretary: RJ Stewart 0407 766 841 Far North Queensland President: John McAllister 0409 722 455 Secretary: Chey Bird 0409 251 187 Fraser Coast President: Kev Embrey 0427 250 545 Secretary: Jeffrey Bacchi 0419 729 857 Gold Coast President: Lloyds Evans 0439 979250

Victoria President: Peter Foreman 0439 533 171 Secretary: Greg Warren 0412 368 078 Northern Territory Wellbeing Officer: Kelly MacRae 0417 895 086 Western Australia President: James Sullivan 0414 733 083 Secretary: Justin Reid 0403 012 252

QLD State Committee Chairman: Darryl Van de Velde Vice Chairman: Pete Psaltis Treasurer: Tony Woodgate Committee: Jason Cubit, Darryl Foster, Wally Fullerton Smith, Ian Gatenby, Ashley Tulley, Greg Veivers, Dan Whitmore, Peter McWhirter, Anthony Monaghan, Shane Boyes, David Shillington & Fiona Rudkin

Men of League Foundation

06.07.19 Join us at our Annual Gala Dinner for a night of dinner, dancing and delight.

Rub shoulders with rugby league royalty as we fundraise for those volunteers, referees, administrators and players of our great game who are out of funds, out of luck or out of hope. Your attendance will enable us to continue to care for the men, women and children of the rugby league community.

VENUE

Sofitel Wentworth Sydney

TIME

7:00 PM pre-drinks 7:30 PM start

DRESS

Black tie

RSVP

Friday 14 June 2019

$300 per person | $3,000 per table of 10 | $270* per person for Silver members | $240* per person for Corporate/Gold members Two discounted tickets per Silver/Gold membership and five per Corporate membership

*

Tickets on sale now at menofleague.com

Laura Shakespeare with her devoted son, and promising footballer, Malachi at the Redcliffe Dolphins clubhouse.

Laura showing her renowned grit Keen footballer Laura Shakespeare has inspired those around her, particularly her wellbeing supporters from the Men of League Foundation, in how she has confronted breast cancer in her early 30s. Neil Cadigan As a fit 32-year-old dedicated to her passion of rugby league and daily gym sessions, Laura Shakespeare’s shock at being told she had breast cancer is understandable.

However, she can now look back and be thankful for, firstly, her self-awareness that led to an early diagnosis, and also the support around her that continues to help her through the toughest period of her life as a single parent of two children.

Laura was a footy-junkie in the truest sense. She has played rugby union (full team), rugby sevens and rugby league around the north Brisbane and Caboolture areas and been a respected teammate and opponent of Australia women’s league legends like Ali Brigginshaw and Steph Hancock.

She’s managed the teams of her son Malachi, 14, who has come through the ranks at Redcliffe Dolphins, and helped coach other teams. And she liked nothing more than going to the gym to attack the weights 6

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machines six days a week, sometimes twice a day, while spending her other hours as a devoted mum of Malachi and Leilani, 3, and her job as a nurse.

That has been taken away for a while after surgery to remove one breast and a wait until the same fate awaits the other. Yet what hasn’t left her is her natural fight and resilience, although she admits there are tough days when she struggles to find both.

The Dolphins saw this and contacted Men of League’s new Moreton committee who had wellbeing officers at her door soon after. An application was made to provide Shakespeare with funding to assist with medical bills, not just for her but Malachi who recently suffered a second break of his foot that saw him miss all of the 2018 footy season and help with child care costs for Leilani.

She says she is grateful for the Foundation’s continual contact and support and her story is a telling case on two levels – firstly, that cancer does not discriminate

and can unexpectedly confront the healthiest people at any age, and secondly, how the wide perception that Men of League is almost exclusively about caring for elderly former male footballers is highly deceiving.

“Men of League have been great; they have been one of my main three groups who have helped me through a hard time and kept me focussed on the good instead of dwelling on being in a bad spot,” Laura said.

“Mummy’s Wish, a group that provides support for mums with cancer, who have at least one child under 12, also opened my eyes to how younger women are affected by cancer.

“And, of course, the Redcliffe Dolphins where I have made a lot of friends.”

Shakespeare is an example to young women that they can’t be too vigilant when it comes to breast cancer.

Previously she reported a lump to her doctor and it proved benign. Last September she had a soreness in her breast and put it down to pain associated with “that time of the month”. However, when it did not go away she took action.

A lump the size of a 50-cent coin was found in her breast. Within days she was undergoing a series of scans and was told she had breast cancer and needed a mastectomy of her left breast.

The lump grew by 2mm while checks were being carried out and she was told by her specialist she would not have lived past Christmas if the cancer had not been identified when it was.

She was naturally devastated. And she admits not only the shock of the diagnosis but her sudden dearth of physical activity has been a big adjustment she has struggled with.

She’d taken a year off from playing rugby league while Malachi managed with his broken foot and she wanted to spend more time with Leilani but was keen to return to action in 2019. That has been taken away.

She can barely walk around the block when she had prided herself on being supremely fit and strong.

But she knows that she must be patient during the long road back to health and has confronted that women as young as her are subject to cancer but can recover and have fruitful, active lives.

“I can’t go to gym and I can’t play footy and right side of chest-wall hasn’t healed properly so tough mentally and physically,” Laura said.

“I found it really hard and tried to jump on board with the cancer patients’ network. But it was really scary with everyone so much older, most of them over 70.

Malachi and Laura.

“When people think of cancer they think of older people but it’s not always the case.

“I have four sisters and they’ve now all gone for checks.

So many girls find lumps [in their breasts] especially that time of month and think it’s hormonal. Two years ago I found lump and the doctor said it was hormonal, but it didn’t go away and finally it was checked out and luckily it was benign. You have to be aware.”

Only in February Malachi, a talented junior footballer, broke his foot for a second time which placed more duress on Laura.

It was only natural he would gravitate to rugby league after his mum played for Easts Tigers in the Brisbane competition for years, often backing up while playing rugby union for the Caboolture Snakes, or sevens and nines tournaments.

“Laura is an inspiring woman and we are glad to help her out,” said Queensland state wellbeing manager Mark Bunting who has maintained regular contact with Shakespeare.

“After a referral came from the Redcliffe club we initially arranged for a volunteer from the new Moreton committee meet up with her. And then they were successful in gaining a grant to financially assist her.

“She has played, coached and managed teams and her case defies the old stereotype of the Foundation that it’s all about visiting old blokes in nursing homes.

“We truly do get out and help the men, women and children of them rugby league community and Laura’s situation shows how the footy network can bring awareness of that.”

Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

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The fortunate few ... attendees of the lunch with champion Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy.

Lunch of learning with Craig Bellamy Melbourne Storm premiership coach Craig Bellamy, regarded by many as the most successful coach of his era, enthralled a gathering of business people at the highly-prized ‘lunch with’ session which was bid for at Queensland’s annual lunch. Steve Ricketts Brisbane businessman Anthony Monaghan was so impressed with ‘The Craig Bellamy Boardroom Experience’ and the work of 'Men of League' that he joined the organisation’s Queensland committee.

The owner of a sign-writing business which is a sleeve sponsor of Brisbane Norths, Monaghan was one of 14 people who bid for a seat at the lunch with legendary Melbourne Storm coach Bellamy in the boardroom of Queensland Rugby League Central, in Brisbane, on 6 December last year.

Those in attendance also got to hear from other special, paying guests in Australian coach Mal Meninga, Gold Coast Titans chairman Dennis Watt and ARL elite performance manager Troy Thomson.

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“He didn't air any dirty linen but his off-the-cuff comments were so interesting,” Monaghan said.

“I'm not surprised he has a reputation for being such a good person manager and why Melbourne are such a successful club.

“For Craig to volunteer to be part of that occasion, for Men of League, it says a lot about the organisation. I had a good chat to Darryl and since then I have been honoured to come on board with the [state] committee."

The Bellamy event followed on from the hugely successful lunch with Penrith general manager of football and former New South Wales State of Origin coach Phil Gould the previous year.

Queensland Men of League committee chairman Darryl Van de Velde, a former Queensland representative, hosted the lunch.

But Bellamy didn’t have to win over the attendee, like Gould did, given many Queenslanders regard the Storm as a pseudo Queensland side (although Bellamy also coached NSW).

Monaghan, who sat beside Bellamy, described the lunch as a “fantastic experience” and was blown away with the frank and open nature of the Storm supremo when he took questions from guests.

Former South Queensland Crushers, Brisbane Brothers, Brisbane Souths and Dewsbury (England) player Brendan Williams admitted to being an unabashed fan of Bellamy’s.

Men of League Foundation

Williams, who owns workforce training company Industry Graduates, said there was a lot he learned from the lunch which he described as “great value for money”.

“My experience from my playing days is that it is hard to maintain success over a sustained period,” Williams said. “Craig has been able to do that, and surprisingly, he hasn't worked on the basis of planning a long way in advance.

“He was asked how the Storm planned the transition to playing without ‘the big three’ (Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith).

“Craig said it was a simple fact of football life that a club could lose three players in a week, for a variety of reasons. So, his focus was on the week to week issues.”

Peter Nardi, a flood mitigation engineer with the Queensland Government, went to the lunch courtesy of his wife Lindsay Coates from Netwealth Investments.

A keen follower of the game, Nardi supports Penrith but his favourite player was Brisbane Brothers, St George, Queensland and Australian centre Mark Coyne.

“What struck me most about Craig was the fact he had a set of standards he would not compromise,” Nardi said.

“He doesn't go for five-year plans because he believes you can’t concede a season by looking beyond what is in front of you. The long term will look after itself.

“Looking back at 2010 when Melbourne had points docked (for salary cap breaches), he was asked whether he thought of blooding new players.

But his attitude was, you couldn’t just give the jersey to anyone.”

Tim Dineen, area manager for Angove Wines who supplied product for the lunch, coached former Storm halfback Cooper Cronk in the First XV at St Laurence’s College, South Brisbane.

Bellamy replied, matter-of-factly, that Cooper was in love with a girl (Tara Rushton) in Sydney, so how could the Storm stand in his way?

Andrew O’Brien, who also attended the Gould lunch, said the thing that struck him about Bellamy was his attention to detail.

“He is very clinical,” said O'Brien, a Gatton-based businessman who is also welfare and media officer for the Men of League’s Toowoomba committee.

“Hearing him talk just confirmed why he is the number one coach in the game. Just the hours he spends on getting things right, whether it is wrestling techniques or passing the football.”

Van de Velde said Bellamy, who volunteered his services, had answered all questions thrown his way during the three-hour lunch, making it an outstanding experience.

“He’s a quality person with a great knowledge of the game,” Van de Velde said.

“Naturally Craig was asked about how he made seemingly average players from other clubs into top first graders and he replied that he simply told players to move on if they did not want to buy into the Storm’s culture.

“It was a bonus for us to have Anthony (Monaghan) come on board with our state committee. He's a young, successful businessman who will bring energy and new ideas to the table.”

Successful bidders for lunch with Craig Bellamy were Peter Nardi (engineer), Shane Boyes (Direct Distribution), Brendan Williams (Industry Graduates), Peter McWhirter (Peter McWhirter Group), John Robertson and Michael Robertson (Westpac), Anthony Monaghan (Monaghan Signs), Luke Tulley (seat bought by his son Ashley Tulley, a member of the Queensland state committee); Tim Dineen (Angove Wines), Andrew O'Brien (O'Brien Group) and Tony Ganter (AllSports Physio).

“Craig was hit by a couple of curly questions but he was open and honest,” Dineen said.

The bids were made during a Dutch auction at the Men of League Foundation’s Queensland annual lunch (presented by Newstead Brewing Co.) at the Royal International Convention Centre last September.

“It was sensational to have such access to him and to realise he's just a normal bloke. And, like me, he’s a big Jimmy Barnes fan.”

The Men of League Foundation conveys its special thanks to the Queensland Rugby League for the use of their boardroom.

Craig was asked about the departure of Cooper Cronk for the Roosters and Cronk being an inspirational figure for the Sydney club in their 21-6 grand final win over the Storm last year.

Van de Velde said Mal Meninga, a former Canberra teammate of Bellamy’s, has agreed to be the interview subject at this year’s boardroom experience - on Thursday 21 November.

Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

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Reunited ... (from left) Tas Baitieri, Graham ‘Buck’ Rogers, Stuart Stanton with Men of League Foundation wellbeing officer Norm Pounder.

The man they can’t stop Graham (everyone calls him ‘Buck’) Rogers is one of the most enduring characters of rugby league in the far west of Sydney, still coaching at A-grade level at the age 75. A tough prop in his playing days, he was quite emotional when Men of League made a fuss of his contribution to the game. Neil Cadigan If larger-than-life Graham ‘Buck’ Rogers is not rugby league’s ultimate marathon man, he must be in gold medal contention.

At age 75 and living with Parkinson’s Disease, he is still coaching the Londonderry Greys in the Penrith A-grade competition and is president of the club he reformed after an absence from the league of over 20 years.

Buck is well-known to those around the NSWRL/ARL competition in the 1970s-90s as lower grade coach at Penrith and Canberra who was just beaten for the South Sydney top job in the mid-1990s.

After a long, successful bush playing career that took in many towns in NSW and Queensland, he coached the Panthers reserve grade team under Tim Sheens and Phil Gould, and was the first grade-level coach of the likes of Tas Baitieri, Gould (Penrith) and Ricky Stuart (when a rugby union convert at Canberra in 1988).

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But the former tough prop is mellow enough to admit he had a tear in his eye when he was reunited with Baitieri, the game’s international development manager, while a special guest at the NSW Rugby League’s Centre of Excellence that houses the Men of League Foundation’s national office.

Wellbeing managers Norm Pounder and Ken Vessey transported Buck to the centre of excellence where he was overwhelmed to be greeted by Baitieri, NSWRL community football manager Stuart Stanton, who he also used to coach, and the Foundation’s national manager administration Kellie-Ann Furner, wife of David Furner who Rogers also mentored as a young Raiders players.

There too to welcome him were Foundation CEO Stephen Lowndes, NSW state manager Bruce Walker and NSWRL CEO Dave Trodden.

“I have never been so humbled in my life,” said Rogers, who has been coaching at a senior level for more than four decades, of the red-carpet treatment he received.

“I still dream footy every night and I’m often awake at 2am writing out team lists.

“It’s been my life and, while there have been some heartaches along the way, I have met so many wonderful people who will cross the road to say hello to me still now.

“But there’s not as much I love about league to the top level now. I’m very disappointed with the game being brought down by the recent off-field events.

I’m very disappointed with these blokes playing up; where’s their respect for women and for the game they represent.”

Rogers was just about brought to tears again when a few weeks later a Men of League contingency headed out to Richmond Race Club (greyhounds), where he is also a legend as a long-time trainer, to support the major fund-raiser for the Greys. He had to pinch himself when he was rubbing shoulders with ARL Team of the Century member Noel Kelly.

Rugby league and the Rogers family goes back a long way. He started playing in the Balmain area where his first coach was the club legend Norm ‘Latchem’ Robinson. His family moved to St Marys in Sydney’s west where he first played senior grades before heading off in what became an almost annual sojourn to the bush, representing country clubs like Cooma, Queanbeyan Blues, Gulgong, Bundaberg and Ayr. He played in the Foley Shield competition.

“As long as I came home to mum every summer it was fine,” Rogers laughed.

Even his mother Dot was a league pioneer. She captained NSW in the first women’s representative game, a NSW v Queensland clash in 1956, which was refereed by Immortal Clive Churchill. Dot played for a team called Bells of St Marys in regular matches against Riverstone Rubies.

Buck’s daughter Lee Anne played for his beloved Greys as a young girl (as well as touch football) and his son Tony represented ACT at many levels of touch football (Buck coached the open men’s side for 10 years).

It was the tragic death of Lee Ann, from a heart attack at age 42 in 2014, that rocked Buck but inspired him to re-establish the Londonderry Greys after two decades in the wilderness. He did that in 2015 and the club has five teams, two of which won premierships last season. He coached the A-grade team that lost last year’s grand final in division B.

Buck sometimes needs a motorised scooter to get around the training paddock (at other times he uses a walking frame) but the players still idolise him.

“I told them I think I’ll have to give it away after this season,” he said.

“They said if we win the competition, would I go around one more year.

“So, it looks like I’m on an incentive contract with them.”

Rogers has been training greyhounds for over four decades and had an impressive performer called Reno Boy who won five races straight at Harold Park and Wentworth Park in 1981.

He still has two dogs who he races, and gets out to train them most days, even with his mobility problems.

Who is the best player he has coached?

“Without doubt Brad Clyde; there is no position he couldn’t play and nothing he couldn’t do,” he glows.

“And he’s a first-class person as well.”

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy, who Rogers coached in reserve grade many times during his 1988-91 stint with the Raiders (his sides lost the grand finals of 1990 and ’91 in extra-time), is another stand-out.

“He was an incredible leader and smart footballer,” Rogers recalls.

He crafted Stuart into league in 1988 when the halfback converted from union after representing Australia on the tour of Argentina.

People often forget Stuart played the first half of his initial season with Canberra in reserve grade under Rogers.

“I remember saying to Sheensy, this bloke is too good for reserve grade, he’s five passes ahead of these blokes, you’ve got to pick him,” Rogers recalled. Ivan Henjak was soon after usurped for the number seven jersey and Stuart finished the season in the halves with an 18-year-old Kevin Walters outside him.

Like many, the no-nonsense Buck Rogers has a weekend of footy tales to tell, two arms full of friendships to recall, and naturally a few regrets.

Unlike most at his age, he’s still giving to the game daily when he has every right not to.

And the Londonderry B division A-graders just might ensure he’s not going to give coaching away just yet.

Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

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Tom Duggan is second row, third from left, pictured in the touring 1974 Queensland squad.

Duggans now stand side by side Inaugural Queensland state committee member Tom Duggan was selected for the Maroons but was never given the chance to ‘officially’ play for his state. Here is a fascinating story of a well-known Queensland league family. Steve Ricketts

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Tom Duggan was chosen for Queensland but, unlike his older brother Liam, never took the field wearing the Maroon colours of his state.

match, which NSW won 22-13, with prop Greg Veivers, now a Queensland Men of League board member, scoring two tries for the Maroons.

Tom went to New Zealand with a Queensland squad in 1974 but the first match, in Auckland, was billed as a ‘sister-city’ clash between Brisbane and Auckland.

There were 13 Brisbane players in the touring party of 19, enough to field a team. And even though Duggan was from the bush, he sat on the sidelines in a Brisbane jersey.

That was as close as Duggan got to representing his state. The official Queensland team photograph, ahead of the trip to New Zealand, shows Tom Duggan is in the second row, wearing his tracksuit and standing between Peter Leis and Rod Halley.

But because he did not take the field, he is not mentioned in the official list of Queensland players.

Brisbane won 10-4 and then Queensland squad, with Barry Muir in his inaugural year as coach, flew to Sydney for the first match of the interstate series against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Duggan didn’t make the 15 for the Sydney

The QRL’s history committee thought that was unfair and ensured Tom’s name was placed alongside Liam’s when a commemorative wall, featuring the names of non-Origin Queensland was unveiled in the northern forecourt of Suncorp Stadium.

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Liam, 72, was born in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, and was destined for a sporting career in one of the Gaelic pursuits until his father Patrick decided to make a new life for the family in Australia.

Patrick, who had served six years in the British Army, had been interested in cattle dealing since he was 10 and saw Australia as the perfect place to pursue a career, even though he had three brothers-in-law in New York. Liam, who was 18 months old when the family emigrated, played for Queensland against Great Britain at Lang Park in 1968. The British embarked on a Queensland tour after contesting the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, with both their Australian matches taking place in Sydney.

It was a massive achievement for a lad from the small South Burnett town of Wondai to be chosen for his state. But those things happened in the days before full-time professionalism. Britain defeated Queensland 33-18 after having opened their state tour with a 28-10 win over Toowoomba.

Tom and Liam played for Wide Bay against the Brits at Maryborough in 1974, losing 24-12. Liam played all his football in the bush, representing Wide Bay against the British in 1966 and against the Kiwis the following year. “It was a great thrill playing for Wide Bay,” Liam said. “You would walk down the main street of Wondai and people would want to talk to you about football. After one game against Central Queensland, I was named man of the match and was given a box of cigarettes and a lighter.”

Tom did his national service at Ingleburn in NSW in 1969 and did a tour of duty in Vietnam, playing rugby union for an Army representative side against a French Armed Forces outfit in Saigon.

He joined Brisbane Valleys in 1977, largely because he had formed a close bond with Tony Perkins and Gerry Fitzpatrick on the 1974 trip to Auckland. In an Amco Cup match in ‘77, Duggan scored three tries for Valleys in a 19-10 win over Illawarra and picked up a colour television for his trouble.

In 1978 Valleys reached the grand final only to lose 14-10 to hot favourites Easts. It was Wally Lewis’ first year in the top grade and his performance in the grand final had critics tipping him as a future international.

Tom Duggan produced one of the great moments of the match when he made a tremendous midfield bust which led to a try to centre Vic Wieland. The following year, with Ross Strudwick as captain-coach, Valleys belted the Wayne Bennett coached Souths’ Magpies 26-0 in the grand final with Duggan and Al McInnes the props.

The Duggan brothers ... Tom (right) and Liam.

Future Test centre Chris Close, who scored a try for Valleys, is widely known as ‘Choppy’, a nickname bestowed on him by the Duggan family.

“Chris came to stay on our family’s property and wanted to use a tomahawk to chop trees,” Tom recalls. “After a few futile efforts, he said this was way too hard and asked if morning tea was ready.

So, after that we called him ‘Chop, Chop’ and it became ‘Choppy’.”

If it wasn’t for the likes of the Duggan boys and other ‘country bumpkins’ from the Burnett region, there might not be a surf lifesaving club at Noosa Beach.

In 1967, there were plenty of long-haired surfies at Noosa but not many able-bodied men willing to follow the discipline of surf lifesaving and its rostered patrols. With the backing of several Murgon businesses, 31 young men from the area took charge of an old bus and each weekend made the trip to Noosa to carry out patrols.

These days Liam lives at Cooroy, near Noosa, and works as a relieving motel manager as well as being a land access consultant for the gas industry.

Tom, who turned 70 in February, managed pubs and coached in the bush after his retirement from football in 1980. He was chairman of Brisbane Norths for four years and was a founding member of the Queensland committee of Men of League. In the early 1990s. When he was coaching the Roma under-18 side, Duggan rang Broncos chief executive John Ribot to tell him he had “another Michael O’Connor” in his side - Willie Carne who would go on to play 134 games for the Broncos, 10 Tests and 12 Origin matches for Queensland.

Tom and Liam were named in the South Burnett team of the century in 2008, along with internationals John Wittenberg, Dave Brown and Bryan Niebling. Tom also was named in the Wide Bay team of the century.

Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

13

The celebrated O’Doherty brothers in their playing days. Back (from left): Donald, Bill and John. Front: Bernie, Patrick and Hugh.

Ipswich jets into action Men of League Foundation is proud to announce that Ipswich, a region with a rich and successful footy history, now has its own committee, represented by some of the bestknown names in local rugby league. Neil Cadigan As a nursery for elite rugby league talent, no place in Australia has a prouder tradition than the Ipswich area.

Talk footy there and the names like Allan and Kevin Langer, the three Walters brothers, Noel Kelly, Duncan Hall, Gary Parcell, Dale Shearer, Dud Beattie, Johnny Brown and Denis Flannery roll off the tongue.

So, when it comes to setting up a new Men of League Foundation committee in the proud city, it’s no surprise that some famous names will be involved.

Hugh is a local footy legend too. After coming through the Railways/Norths system at Ipswich, he won four premierships in Brisbane with Valleys in the 1970s as a hooker, going on to represent Queensland.

Five brothers (there were six who played A-grade) once played in a Gatton-Norths grand final - Pat, Hugh, Bill and Don for Gatton plus Bernie for Norths.

“It all began when David Shillington (former Queensland state manager of the Foundation) asked his brother Mark, who is an orthopaedic surgeon up here, if he knew of anyone in footy who could set up committee in Ipswich,” said committee president Pat, a member of the Tom Raudonikis-coached Ipswich Jets’ initial Queensland Cup team of 1986 that included Allan Langer and Kevin and Kerrod Walters.

And Pat, who played 48 ARL premiership games for Wests, Gold Coast and Parramatta and was in

“I’m very proud of the deep rugby league tradition in the Ipswich area and many of us in the game got

The O’Doherty clan is another league family that is wellknown, within and beyond the region’s boundaries.

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the 1990 Kangaroos train-on squad, has been the driving force behind the establishment of an Ipswich committee of Men of League Foundation – with the whole-hearted support of older brother Hugh.

Men of League Foundation

together to help raise much-needed funds for junior clubs who had been badly affected by the 2011 floods, so I was more than keen to get it moving.

“I met with David in Brisbane and it went from there. At first there was talk of a sub-committee of Brisbane but Darryl van de Velde came out and spoke to us and thought a full committee was the way to go.

“We called a meeting of interested parties at Ipswich Brothers leagues club and 27 turned up, and the support grew from there.

“I felt we needed something here (for the Foundation) with the number of great players we’ve provided over many years with many still living in the area.

“Eventually we’d like to have a representative from every footy club in the area involved.”

The O’Doherty name goes back to Railways club days before they become Ipswich Norths.

The six brothers and four sisters, and their parents Bernard and Margaret, have all been involved in the game at some level.

Margaret was a regular canteen worker alongside the Langers’ mum Rita for many years. Bernard’s father Bill played in the region too.

They’d take kids off the street into their home when they needed shelter and food, and help young players in life, and the benevolent spirit has never left them.

Hugh, who lost his wife in 2017 and almost his own life before that when he collapsed in the heat in his backyard and was rushed to hospital, has leapt into his role as a wellbeing officer.

Few in the region don’t know of his grand footballing feats and his network of friends is huge. At 71, he is still on the board at Ipswich Brothers.

Yet the Ipswich committee wants to have a focus on youth as well. Pat was deeply affected by the suicide of a player he coached in under-19s and is aware of the mental health issues facing young people and wants to ensure a support network is in place.

Pat was the driving force behind a major fund-raiser in 2011 after the floods that devastated the Darling Downs, organising an Ipswich v All Stars ‘legends’ match that featured the likes of Steve Renouf, Shane Webcke, Kevin Walters and Allan Langer.

Pat (left) and Hugh O’Doherty … the driving forces behind the new committee.

The Ipswich committee includes Anthony Breeze (Ipswich rugby league director) as secretary, Brooke Brown (treasurer), Gordon Langton (former Ipswich Jets star player), Liz Adams (currently on the Jets board) and Don O’Doherty.

If you would like to become involved with the Ipswich committee activities, contact Pat O’Doherty on 0405 267 530

It raised $26,000 which went to replace junior league equipment lost in the floods.

Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

15

2019 membership launch The 2019 membership program has been launched, with members already signing up in droves to show support for the rugby league community.

In 2018, over 8,000 members embraced the changes to the membership program which saw an annual renewal model introduced. This new model placed the Foundation in a much stronger position to assist those most in need and contributed to the distribution of over $1 million in wellbeing grants.

Snapshot of results Our members Bronze – 77% Silver – 13%

The 2019 membership program has been developed, based off feedback provided by both financial and non-financial members. Over 1,000 respondents completed the annual membership satisfaction survey, with a snapshot of these results here:

Gold – 10% Corporate – <1%

Why did you become a member?

Being a part of something that improves the lives of others To support the organisation financially To receive the benefits associated with the membership – magazine, keyring, etc.

Membership was given to me as a gift

On a scale of 1 – 10, how satisfied are you with the following elements of your membership?

Membership benefits (keyring, bumper sticker, membership card) Value for money Service from the membership team The opportunity to mix with other members The Foundation’s effort to make you feel like a valued member The renewal/sign up process 7.8 16

8.0

8.2 8.4 Weighted average

Men of League Foundation

8.6

8.8

How satisfied are you with the content of the following Men of League Foundation communication channels?

Magazine Website Email Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn 0

2

4 6 Weighted average

8

10

On a scale of 1 – 10 – how satisfied are you overall with your membership?

– how likely are you to recommend membership to your friends and family?

8.7

1

10

Weighted average

Membership card Lanyard Keyring

Which items would you like to see as part of the 2019 membership pack?

Bumper sticker Cap Scarf Magnet Flag Pen Drink bottle Mug Mousepad Polo/t-shirt Other (please specify) Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

17

In your own words, what does the Men of League Foundation do?

assistance

community

fallen

players rugby game league members help

support rugby need provides

hard times families people former past involved

Most frequent words • support • help • need • people • players • rugby league • hard times • families • rugby

• community • members • game • fallen • past • former • assistance • involved • provides

New Junior Membership introduced A new Junior Membership has been introduced for 2019, to encourage the younger generation to become involved with the Foundation. Junior members will receive a personalised draw string bag, personalised pencil case as well a 5% discount on Men of League Foundation merchandise.

Sign up your kids/grandkids/nieces/nephews today via the new member form in this magazine, or at menofleague.com/membership

Member Referral Program The Member Referral Program is back for 2019!

Recruit brand new members to the Foundation and we will reward you.

The best recruiter for 2019 will win a $300 gift voucher from Harvey Norman!

Your name must be listed as the referring member on the new member application form found in this magazine, or during the online application process to be eligible.

Recruited members must not have been members prior to 2019.

Closing date: Tuesday 1 October 2019 18

Men of League Foundation

Shontelle Stowers comes aboard The diversity of the Foundation’s growth in the past 18 months has been highlighted by the addition of Australian rugby union legend and part of the new breed of the Women’s National Rugby League competition Shontelle Stowers to the national wellbeing committee.

Shontelle Stowers (left) representing Sydney Roosters in the WNRL. Image: NRL Imagery.

The New Zealand-born Stowers moved to Sydney when she was 21 and soon committed to playing for the Warringah Rats women’s rugby side. She had to sit out three years before gaining qualification to represent her adopted nation in the 15-a-side and seven-aside forms of the game. She also captained Samoa in last year’s Commonwealth Championships.

“I later asked if she’d be interested in joining the committee. She also brings more diversity to our ranks being the second female (after me) on the committee and, with a Pasifika heritage, she provides some strong cultural knowledge to help us to better support the Polynesian community members in our care.

In 2018 Stowers was part of the first intake of players to participate in the inaugural WNRL competition, playing for Sydney Roosters. The year before she was introduced to league via the Sharks.

“And, as an elite athlete, she can help inform the committee about the unique challenges that past NRL players face in their careers so that we can better support them in their retirement.”

An executive assistant by career, Shontelle took the opportunity to study elite athlete wellbeing as part of a program provided by the NRL. While undergoing a qualification course, she came across the Foundation’s national wellbeing manager Jessica Macartney, who was very impressed with the 32-year-old’s passion for playing a role in sport’s wellbeing space.

With former Canberra Raiders skipper Alan Tongue forced to stand down from the national wellbeing committee because of work commitments, Stowers was seen as the perfect replacement and jumped at the opportunity.

“I met Shontelle through the elite athlete wellbeing qualification that she was completing and was impressed with her passion for helping the rugby league community and making a difference,” Macartney said.

“It’s an area I am very passionate about and feel I will be able to add value from a different perspective,” Stowers said.

“The profile of women’s rugby league grown immensely in the past year or so and, as a current player, I feel I can be a voice and add many aspects of diversity to the committee.

“I’ve attended two meetings and it has quickly hit home how much of an impact the Foundation makes in the community.

“It’s been an eye opener to learn the stories behind why people need grants or other assistance and that we are truly dealing with and providing crucial support to children, wives, whole families and not just footballers. So, it’s great to be one of the young women making a contribution in this area.”

The national wellbeing committee meets once every two months.

It is chaired by the Foundation’s national board member Geoff Thoroughgood, with Jessica Macartney the secretary.

Other members are CEO Stephen Lowndes, Northern Sydney wellbeing officer Ken Vessey, former NRL referee Greg McCallum, NSW state manager Bruce Walker, Queensland wellbeing manager Mark Bunting and Stowers.

The role of the committee is to support the Foundation’s wellbeing staff to assess grant applications and set the vision for wellbeing operations within the organisation.

Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

19

Gold Coyne contribution Mark Coyne (right) with ARLC chairman Peter Beattie in the background at the media conference to announce Coyne’s appointment.

The highly-respected Mark Coyne could not have had a tougher introduction to becoming an NRL commissioner, however the combination of his league and business acumen is a valuable asset for the game. Barry Ross Mark Coyne had a dramatic introduction to his new position as an NRL commissioner. The nineTest Kangaroo and former Queensland State of Origin star attended his first meeting on the last day of February at League Central in Sydney, the most awaited direction-deciding meeting in the commission’s history.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) introduced the change in policy relating to players facing serious criminal charges, which saw Jack de Belin become the first player stood down under the ‘no fault’ suspension rule, while also ruling on Cronulla’s salary cap breaches and confirming sanctions surrounding the deregistration of the club’s former coach Shane Flanagan.

20

weeks before the policy change, Coyne had publicly supported the current NRL policy, that said a player deserved the benefit of the presumption of innocence.

“I did say that,” Coyne admitted. “But after I had reviewed more information and discussed the matter with my fellow commissioners and other people in the game who I respect, I changed my mind as I have every right to do.”

He says the commission did not reach the decision lightly. It was made after an extensive and robust debate lasting nearly three hours after discussion with NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and chief operating officer Nick Weeks.

Coyne showed the trademark character his rugby league career was forged from when he volunteered to leave the meeting after declaring a conflict of interest through his close friendship with Flanagan.

“After the bad publicity and damage the game has endured over the past few months, we needed to make a stand and draw a line in the sand,” Coyne says.

The next day, Coyne was called out in a Sydney newspaper for changing his position on de Belin’s situation. According to the newspaper just two

“As commissioners we have to make decisions in the best interests of the game and not individual clubs and I have no doubt that we will always do this.”

Men of League Foundation

Coyne, 51, was first approached by Phil Gould and Nick Politis in late 2017 to consider standing for a place on the ARLC as a club representative.

Chairman Peter Beattie also spoke to him around the same time but Coyne turned down the opportunity because he believed the responsibilities would adversely affect his employment as CEO of Employers Mutual Limited, a position he has held since 2012.

A few months later, Beattie contacted him again, advising that Dr Chris Sarra intended to step down in February 2019.

“At this time I felt that I could handle my duties as a commissioner while also giving the necessary time to my job. So I accepted a three-year role as an independent commissioner.”

Born in Brisbane, Coyne played his junior football with Souths Sunnybank before moving to Brothers where he rose to their A-grade team, scoring 11 tries in eight matches in his debut season (1985). He played in the 1987 grand final victory over Redcliffe.

He completed a Bachelor of Business Management degree at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and was employed in the financial industry for a decade early in his working life.

Powerful second-rower John Jansen, who was a member of the 1977 St George premiership-winning team, recommended the Dragons sign the young back after watching him play while on a scouting mission in Brisbane. Coyne signed with the Dragons and played in the under-21s during 1988. He made his first grade debut as a winger in 1989.

When he retired after the 1999 season, he had played 207 first grade matches for St George and another 15 as a St George Illawarra Dragon in the first season of the merger club. He crossed for 61 tries in those 222 appearances.

His Test career included being a member of the Brad Fittler-captained 1995 Australian World Cup winning side, partnering Terry Hill in the centres for Australia’s 16-8 win over England in the final.

He added 19 Origin games for Queensland from 1990-97 including scoring the never-to-be-forgotten match-winning try in Sydney in 1994, immortalised in commentator Ray Warren’s words “that’s not a try, that’s a miracle!”

“While I was elated to score this try, it is not the best memory from my football career,” he explained. “I will never forget our [Queensland’s] 3-0 Origin series win in 1995 Origin matches while the 1996 St George team, which made that year’s grand final, will always be special to me.”

Mark Coyne (right) with Maroons teammate Wayne Bartrim ... the ‘95 Origin series win is his greatest career memory. Coyne will be the Sunshine Coast committee’s guest at their Origin luncheon on 21 June.

Coyne’s pedigree as an intelligent, articulate, educated leader as a footballer has served him well post-career.

He served as an NRL judiciary panel member from 2008-14 and was the NRL independent chairman of the Rugby League Players Association’s education and welfare committee for seven years from 2006.

He was also a director of the Police and Citizens Youth Club from 2002-12 and a director of the NRMA Road Service from 2000-03.

He is currently a benefactor of the NSW Children’s Cancer Institute and a board member of the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation. He was awarded the Ken Stephen Medal by the NRL in 1998, the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and a Centenary Medal in 2001.

Mark and his wife Annie live in Sydney’s southern suburbs and have three children. His next-door neighbour is former St George centre Michael Beattie and his wife Cassie, while a couple of doors up on the other side of the street lives Penrith football boss and Channel Nine identity Phil Gould and his family.

“My wife and I regularly have dinner with ‘Gus’ and his wife,” said Mark. “I enjoy his company and I certainly value his perspective on rugby league. “

Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

21

Men of League Foundation Events Calendar April 2019 11

Sunshine Coast Kick-Off Club

Mooloolaba Surf Club

12

Brisbane – Ron Atkins Golf Day

Keperra Golf Club

12

Sydney Metro Lunch

The Juniors Kingsford

13

Canberra Monaro Bowls Day

Vikings Town Centre Club Greenway

26

Bundaberg Kick-Off Club

Salter Oval – Takalvan Street Bundaberg

3

Tweed Golf Day

Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Club

4

South Coast Race Day

Pinebowl Nowra

10

QLD Women’s Lunch

Capri by Fraser Brisbane

17

Northern Sydney Golf Day

Mona Vale Golf Club

17

Townsville Inaugural Lunch

Brothers Leagues Club Townsville

QLD PushUps4League Challenge

Throughout the State

24

Bundaberg Kick-Off Club

Salter Oval – Takalvan Street Bundaberg

24

QLD Golf Day

Indooroopilly Golf Club

QLD Intrust Super Cup Awareness Round

Throughout the State

31

Bundaberg Golf Day

Bundaberg Golf Club

31

Tweed State of Origin Lunch

Kirra Beach Hotel

5

QLD State of Origin Dinner

The Paddo Taven – Given Terrace Paddington

13

Sunshine Coast Kick-Off Club

Mooloolaba Surf Club

21

Sunshine Coast State of Origin Lunch

Maroochy RSL

25

QLD Steak and Shiraz

QLD Cricketers’ Club

28

Bundaberg Kick-Off Club

Salter Oval – Takalvan Street Bundaberg

May

20-26

25-26

June

22

*Events may be subject to change without notice.

Men of League Foundation

July 6

Annual Gala Dinner

Sofitel Wentworth Sydney

10

Caxton Long Lunch – SOO Watch Party

Caxton Hotel

12

Brisbane Origin Wash Up

Norths Leagues Club Kallangur

13

Moreton Bayside Cup Redcliffe v Wynnum

Redcliffe Leagues Club

19

Inaugural Ipswich Lunch

Brothers RLC Ipswich

28

Northern Sydney Kick-Off Club

TBC

September 6

QLD Annual Lunch

Royal International Convention Centre

October 25

Sunshine Coast Golf Day

Twin Waters Golf Course

25

Toowoomba Bowls Day

North Toowoomba Bowls Club

27

Tweed Bowls Day

Coolangatta Bowls Club

December 6

Sunshine Coast Christmas Lunch

Maroochy RSL

*Events may be subject to change without notice.

2019 NRL Grand Final Package Men of League Foundation Members + Guests Exclusive • 3 night’s accommodation in Sydney CBD • Epsom Race Day Entry + Transfers to Randwick Race Course • Pre-game meet & greet with former NRL Grand Finalists • Reserved seating to the 2019 NRL Grand Final

Packages from $750pp + lots of optional tailor-made extras, with every booking resulting in a donation to the Men of League Foundation.

To enquire, contact: qldoffers@menofleague.com

Joel Enright | Travel Counsellor | 0402 149 719 Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

23

Larry Peacock with (from left) Newcastle Hunter secretary Peter Corcoran and wellbeing officers Garry Drummond, David Turrell and Vince Murphy.

Proud to help Peacocks Larry Peacock, son of a Lake Macquarie legendary rugby league figure Lyall, can live a more fulfilling life now, courtesy of family, friends and the Foundation. Neil Cadigan No one with interest in rugby league in the Lake Macquarie area, south of Newcastle, would not be familiar with the name Peacock.

Lyall Peacock, affectionately called ‘Doodle’ by friends during his lifetime, gave much of his adult life to Macquarie United (seniors) and Macquarie Scorpions (seniors and juniors).

And that never abated, despite family tragedy along the way. Lyall saw a son become a quadriplegic through a water-skiing accident and lost another son in a boating mishap.

So there was no reservation at all by the Men of League Foundation to help the devoted footy family when a request was submitted to assist Larry Peacock.

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Men of League Foundation

Larry was a talented 24-year-old sportsman, and a fit and healthy motor mechanic who had just been married, when tragedy struck while barefoot water skiing with friends while on holiday during Easter 1981. He became a quadriplegic after crushing his C5/C6 vertebrae. He received no insurance cover or compensation.

In the early days of his disability, Larry was assisted by his brother Malcolm, who moved in with him to ensure he had someone on hand to assist with his restrictive new lifestyle. After Malcolm married and moved into his own home, Larry’s sister Sonya selflessly took over his care – a responsibility she has continued for almost four decades with help of other family members.

In July 2000 further tragedy hit the Peacock family when Malcolm and three mates were struck by a

savage storm while at sea off the coast of Newcastle in a new boat and all perished.

Until recently Larry has relied heavily on his electric wheelchair or Sonya’s vehicle for transport, and constant assistance from his regular carers. He loved heading a kilometre down the road for the companionship and shared activities at the Rathmines Men’s Shed. But his ability to get around was generally restricted.

He needed two or three people to virtually strap him onto a side-board and drag him into a vehicle. The family designed a belt, complete with drag handle, to assist in the pulling of Larry into position in the family car – an enormous exercise. Because of this requirement, Larry rarely left home; his most regular outings were for medical appointments and at times he had to hire maxi-taxis which were a burden when on a disability pension.

The family were able to gain assistance and buy a new vehicle but it was still quite a mission for two people to transfer Larry in and out of the van. However, the Macquarie Scorpions alerted Men of League Foundation’s Newcastle and Hunter committee which submitted an application for funding to acquire specialised equipment, and modifications to the car, so Larry could much more easily transfer in and out of the vehicle without human lifting.

The full automated wheelchair access package allows a disabled person to board a vehicle, with the transfer controlled electronically by companions.

It has an electrically operated ramp, wheelchair docking system and folding bench seat for carers.

“I really appreciate what Men of League have done for me; it has not just made my life easier but the carers who have to put me in and out of car, often quite a few times a day,” Larry said.

“It was a hard exercise for them to strap me in and manouvre me around, I’m 98kg now, just to go to a medical appointment. Now they can press a button and I can get in and out of the car. If I have to be somewhere in five minutes, I can now.

“Dad did so much for rugby league, and particularly Macquarie. I couldn’t believe sometimes how hard he drove himself down at the ground.

“He would be so proud if he was still here.”

It’s appropriate that the rugby league community, through the Foundation, could give back to a family that has given so much to the sport for so long.

Lyall, who died in 2011, was a legend of devotion in the Newcastle area. He’d given almost half a century

LIfe made easier ... Larry loaded quickly into the new vehicle.

of his life to Lake Macquarie community and rugby league, particularly through the Macquarie Scorpions.

He held every position on the club’s committee at various times including secretary, treasurer and president and, when times were tough, he held multiple positions just to ensure the club survived.

He was also the volunteer groundsman at the Macquarie home ground, now aptly named Lyall Peacock Oval which hosts the NSW schoolboys championships annually. Lyall carried out these duties while working as a miner at the Newstan Colliery at Fassifern where he was also a union delegate.

In the mid-1960s, Macquarie United’s ground was just an oval-shaped open field in need of development. When the local cricket club managed to secure an alternate ground, Lyall set about changing the ground to a rectangular playing surface and secured coal ash from the colliery to build viewing hills around the playing field.

Truck load after truck load of ash was dumped and then, with Lyall Peacock the chief marshall, a volunteer workforce would be mobilised to spread the ash.

Lyall was then able to secure a piped water supply from the colliery, and an exterior fence was added plus a cool room, also acquired from Newstan, added and a grandstand developed.

The annual schools championships have been played at the venue for 35 years, and so much did organisers respect Peacock’s administrative capabilities and devotion to a smoothly-run tournament, the player of the tournament is awarded the Lyall Peacock Award.

He was afforded life membership of the Macquarie Scorpions and the Newcastle Rugby League and he was also awarded club person of the first 50 years of the Macquarie Scorpions’ history.

Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

25

Searching for piece of history Graham Roberts has a few memorable keepsakes from his footy career but would love to find the most important of his life, famous father Ron’s Ashes-drought breaking Australian jersey from 1950.

Steve Ricketts Graham Roberts never tires of hearing the story about the day his father Ron scored the try which clinched the 1950 Ashes series for Australia, after a long period of dominance by the British.

Graham, himself a fine footballer with South Sydney juniors, Balmain and Brothers in Brisbane, loves the history of the game and has never forgotten his start in senior football, at the Cudgen club in the Tweed Valley.

One of his treasured possessions is a jersey worn by his father Ron’s British rival Jack Hilton, in that 1950 Test, which was played on a Sydney Cricket Ground mud heap.

“Dad and Jack swapped jerseys at the end of the match,” Graham said. “I often wonder whether the Hilton family in England still have Dad’s jersey.”

Ron Roberts died in 2003 while Jack Hilton, who, post football had become a director of the famous Wigan club for which he played, passed away in 1998.

English league historian, Robert Grime is trying to track down the family of Hilton through the Wigan club and local press articles.

In a 1986 poll, Rugby League Week magazine named Roberts’ try as the greatest moment in the code’s history in this country.

Following the match, emotional fans broke plates of glass in the SCG Members Stand in an effort to get to their heroes, chanting “we want Churchill” (Australian captain, Clive Churchill).

26

The Great Britain jersey of Jack Hilton. Graham would love to swap it back for his father’s historic green and golf jersey.

Former Queensland Rugby League secretary Harry Sunderland covered the match for ABC Radio and had this to say about Roberts’ try.

“The crowd rode him for the 40 yards he ran and when he dived over about four yards inside the flag, the confetti that was hurled in the air presented a sight like a snowstorm, as it fell back amongst the spectators who had thrown it.”

Bernie Purcell missed the difficult conversion but the Australians gallantly defended their lead.

Roberts, who made his Test debut on Australia’s tour of New Zealand in 1949, did not play for his country again, nor did the centres who fed him the ball. Hilton played two more Tests on the New Zealand leg of the 1950 tour then faded from the international spotlight.

“My brother Peter and I were brought up on that try,” Graham said. “We know everything about it and we have seen film of that series. We're so proud of our dad.

Britain had not been beaten in an Ashes series since the Herb Gilbert-led Australian side won the second Test at the SCG in 1920.

“I don't know whether many people know but the Australian players changed into a new set of jerseys at half-time in that third Test. While they were out there battling away in the mud in the second half, someone stole the whole set that had been left in the sheds.”

Roberts had dropped a couple of passes in the first half but took the ball that mattered most, a pass from Keith Middleton, on the end of a movement which also involved Harold ‘Mick’ Crocker, Keith Holman, Frank Stanmore and Doug McRitchie.

A product of the Waratah Mayfield club in Newcastle, Ron Roberts was chosen for Country in 1948 but was ruled out of the annual match with City because of injury. The following year he joined St George and had one of the finest debut seasons in the code's

Men of League Foundation

Graham Roberts (left) in a newspaper photo with famous father Ron and fellow Tigers player Greg Cox.

Graham Roberts today, with one of his beloved wave skis.

history, crossing for 25 tries. He scored eight tries in three matches for NSW against Queensland. And to top things off, he scored two tries for St George in their 19-12 win over South Sydney in the grand final.

minor premiers, Norths 12-9 in the preliminary final.

But Valleys, coached by former Test forward, Henry Holloway, won a tryless grand final 9-2 in front of a crowd of 38,000.

In 1952 he left Sydney for a captain-coach job at Picton and got to represent Country in the annual match against City. He learnt ‘the pub game’ at Kiama and bought his first hotel at Wombat in the Riverina, followed by a stint at Condobolin, before returning to Sydney where he was licensee of The Hampshire at Camperdown and then the famous Bat and Ball at Moore Park, a favourite watering hole for fans attending the big football and cricket matches at the SCG.

Broughton could not resist the temptation to return to Sydney and took Roberts with him, to Balmain where he played three seasons. At the end of his first season, Roberts was named on the wing in a ‘dream team’ selected by ‘super coach’ Jack Gibson.

Roberts took his family to the Tweed Coast from Sydney to start a new life in 1971 and Graham, a former student at Newtown Boys High, played with the Kingscliff-based Cudgen Headland side in the Group 18/Gold Coast competition.

Roberts should have played under Gibson at South Sydney in 1978, when the Rabbitohs signed him from Balmain, but a knee injury ended his career and he bought a brewery truck.

In 1972, while still playing under-18s, Roberts was promoted to Cudgen first grade several times, most notably for a match against Gold Coast Tigers in which he marked future Test star Steve Rogers.

In 1974, after a stint training with his father’s old club St George, Graham joined Brothers in Brisbane and formed a lethal centre combination with future international Graham Quinn. But three weeks out from the finals, Roberts broke his ankle. Quinn and Murray Schultz, from Bowen in North Queensland, played in the centres, as fourth placed Brothers, with Wayne Bennett at fullback, beat Souths 27-12 in the minor semi-final, and then accounted for

“Rugby League Week asked the coaches to name their form side from outside their own clubs,” Roberts said. “It was a great thrill to have Jack pick me in his side.”

In 1983 he returned to the Tweed and bought a milk run, before taking on a job as a cellarman at Seagulls Leagues Club, West Tweed Heads, in 1988. He still works at Seagulls but these days is a courtesy bus driver.

Roberts, who lives at Banora Point, is a wave ski champion, having won the veteran's class at the world titles at Coffs Harbour in 2009 after he had claimed the New Zealand championship in 2005.

He was introduced to the sport by Mark Cummins, the father of former Wallaby winger, Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins, with Mark having played league for Cudgen, in a junior side coached by Roberts.

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Tim Browne in action for the Panthers. Image: NRL Imagery.

Ambassadors program The Foundation is delighted to welcome three young men, who have shown their class in the NRL competition, as ambassadors for the organisation as part of a new program aimed at engaging a younger audience. Neil Cadigan and Max Hope Former Canterbury and Penrith prop Tim Browne’s life came crashing down just on a year ago. Now he wants to help those who may feel they are confronting the same dilemma.

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tackle while playing in the Intrust Super NSW Cup for the Panthers, Browne has not been one to surround himself in self-pity.

The 31-year-old has joined current NRL players Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers) and Clint Gutherson (Parramatta) as Men of League Foundation ambassadors, part of a new program aimed at players and celebrities attending our events and trying to engage a younger demographic to the Foundation through their presence on social media.

He suffered serious damage to his bowel, as well as hurting his spleen and kidneys, and was in intensive care at Nepean Hospital for two days. It was found he had a three-centimetre tear in his bowel and an inflamed spleen. He’d been no stranger to major injury, after suffering a fractured skull and serious injury to a knee that was badly affected while with the Bulldogs.

Since his sudden forced retirement from the NRL in April 2018 because of a rare injury suffered in a

Yet while many players in his circumstance wallow in “why me” thoughts and wonder how they will

Men of League Foundation

Luke Brooks, Wests Tigers. Image: NRL Imagery.

Clint Gutherson, Parramatta Eels. Image: NRL Imagery.

address the rest of their life, Browne leapt into postfootball life with zest.

Coming off the back of an outstanding 2018 where he was crowned Dally M halfback of the year, Wests Tigers player of the year and Wests Tigers players’ player of the Year, Brooks, 24, has thrown his hand up to support those within the league community that have fallen upon necessitous circumstances.

He’d already set up his own junior football academy called Leading Edge Rugby League Academy (LERLA) and threw his passion and time into that.

It is aimed at helping those players who have missed junior representative selection and may feel they are going to slip through the cracks. Browne holds special training with them and reassures them that he is an example that an NRL career is possible.

He was a late bloomer who was never a “must select” player in junior rep days when he grew up at Raymond Terrace. He was 22 before he made his first-grade debut.

He has also endorsed the need for a network of support via the Foundation of not just the longretired players or family members who need some boosting in latter years, but the many young people of the league community that often need assistance – or are in a position to assist others.

Browne and Brooks were the first two ambassadors to be unveiled, each chosen as part of relationships forged by the Foundation and the Tigers, Eels and Panthers. And just as this magazine went to press, Gutherson came aboard. We could not have been blessed with three more dedicated young men.

Their roles will be to assist the Foundation in promoting the work they do within the rugby league community to a wider audience through social media channels and other commitments such as wellbeing visits, filming and photography.

“I got to be a part of a Men of League Foundation and Wests Tigers initiative with Ellie, until then I didn’t understand what Men of League were capable of doing for the rugby league community,” said Brooks.

“For me, it was easy to choose to be their ambassador once you see the genuine impact and contribution they are able to make to people’s lives.”

Brooks has already put his best foot forward alongside the Foundation, accompanying our representatives to Ronald McDonald House Westmead to visit young Ellie as part of the newly formed Acts of Kindness initiative.

Browne played 103 NRL over seven years. As well as running his academy, he has continued his link with the Panthers by working in their media department and is undergoing tertiary studies.

Gutherson, 24, made his NRL debut the day before his 19th birthday, for Manly, in 2013 and was only 22 when he was appointed as Parramatta’s skipper in 2018. He has been a shining light with how he plays the game, and conducts himself off the field, and that makes him perfectly suited for his ambassador role.

“The work that the Men of League Foundation do, for not only past NRL players but also current grassroots players, officials and volunteers, is really important and something I am passionate about,” he said.

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CARING FOR THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF THE RUGBY LEAGUE COMMUNITY

Queensland Annual Lunch Save The Date | Friday 6 September 2019

Men of League Foundation is pleased to announce our biggest Queensland fundraising event of the year

Friday 6 September 2019

$229 per person | $2,190 table of 10

11:30 AM start

Enjoy a great day out 30

Includes three-course meal and four-hour beverage package

Participate in live auctions

Men of League Foundation

Royal International Convention Centre

Hear from special guests

Tickets onsale soon!

Catch up with mates

Tweed lunch a great success Graham Callaghan

Guests at the Tweed District Men of League Foundation sportsmen’s luncheon at the Seagulls club were given hope they would see a muchimproved Gold Coast Titans team this season.

The Titans provided special guests at the wellattended annual luncheon, with part-owner Darryl Kelly joined by inaugural player and current football manager Anthony Laffranchi, a Murwillumbah product, head coach Garth Brennan, executive chairman Dennis Watt and players Mitch Rein and Ryley Jacks.

Member of league’s prolific Sims family, Canecia (CJ), was interviewed by MC Neil Cadigan. She has joined Tweed Heads Seagulls’ inaugural women’s team that will contest the seven-team Queensland competition in 2019.

Kelly told the gathering he was not happy where the Titans finished on the ladder last season (16th) and admits the time has come for the club to start showing consistent on-field results.

“We did not get as high as we wanted but I am confident improvement will be seen this year,” said Kelly.

“We want a team the community can be proud to support and I believe we have taken a step in the right direction.” He stated the ‘community’ the Titans represented spread from the NSW Northern Rivers, through the Tweed district to the northern bounds of the Gold Coast.

Brennan was also confident of improvement with every position in the team keenly contested.

“In a lot of close games last season supporters would be looking for half Ashley Taylor to score the winning points,” he said.

“He was our ‘go to’ man but this year we have more options.

“Around the halves we have Tyrone Peachey, Tyrone Roberts, AJ Brimson, Ryley Jacks and others giving us more strike-power.

“Our forward pack has been working extremely hard as all players fight for their spot.

Jillaroo and Tweed Seagulls player CJ Sims mixes with Mitch Rein and Titans coach Garth Brennan at the Tweed District sportsmen’s lunch at Seagulls. “Mitch and I grew up together in Gerringong,” said CJ.

“I’m often asked about the make-up of the side for our first game and I honestly can’t answer [such is the new depth in the squad].

“After we play our trials and I’ve watched a few games I will be in a better position but then it will also be hard.”

Brennan said several players turned up for the first fitness session and they had lost weight in the off-season.

He revealed that Queensland prop Jarrod Wallace was three kilos lighter and showing a muchimproved attitude to pre-season training and he tipped a big season for the tough up-front leader.

“Ash Taylor lost nearly seven kilos so he is lighter, faster and fitter,” he also revealed.

Brennan said he was impressed with 19-year-old prop Moeaki Fotuaika who made his debut against Canberra Raiders last season.

“We were in the bus going to the match when I announced Moeaki was to make his debut. The bus erupted with captain Ryan James climbing over seats to congratulate him and Nathan Peats and Kevin Proctor keen to shake his hand.”

The lunch raised a good amount, with several auction items fetching good prices, including a corporate pass to a Titans game and a framed ‘greatest Test captains’ collage.

It is the second successive year the Tweed District has combined with the Gold Coast Titans for the lunch, with the Titans providing guest speakers and auction items as the club makes a concerted effort to be more active in the community.

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Around the grounds...

It has been a busy period for our Western Sydney committee who are fortunate to have the support of Smithfield RSL which hosts their major events. The club donated a cheque for $20,000 to the committee.

Pictured are (from left) Western Sydney president Stephen Winbank, secretary Garry O’Donnell, Smithfield RSL president Colin Evans, CEO Shane Atkins and operations manager Wesley Komorowski.

The Western Sydney committee had a parade of stars at its bowls day, including well-known faces from the region’s three NRL clubs of the 80s (Parramatta, Penrith and Western Suburbs): (from left): Royce Simmons, Eric Grothe, Terry Lamb and Brett Clark.

The bikers from the established Hogs for Homeless annual ride throughout NSW, led by NSW State of Origin coach and playing legend Brad Fittler, were happy to make a few detours to visit people in need as identified by the Foundation.

One was 20-year-old Brad Nixon, of Wagga (but born and raised in Temora) who was battling bowel cancer. Pictured at Brad’s home are (from left) Ian Schubert, Nathan Blacklock, Beau Scott, Brad Nixon and Brad Fittler. Sadly, Nixon has since passed away.

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Men of League Foundation

Around the grounds...

The ‘Boardroom Lunch with Craig Bellamy’ event, promoted at the Queensland annual lunch, received some overwhelming positive feedback.

Here the Melbourne Storm coach is pictured with Anthony Monaghan (left) and Peter Nardi (right).

‘Bedsy’ and ‘Vossy’ … former NSW skipper and Knights legend Danny Buderus and veteran commentator Andrew Voss have become a successful combination in Fox Sports game commentary and they were a big hit at the Ports Stephens’ committee’s lunch at Soldiers Point recently.

The Foundation’s Queensland chairman Darryl van de Velde, known in many parts of the state in football as a player and a coach, and in business, took the time to catch up with footy friends while on a recent visit to Mackay and catch up with some former Mackay Brothers teammates.

Pictured (from left) are Cliff Powell, Helen Mullins, Don Aprile, Pam Powell, Jacque Van de Velde, Peter Mullins, Darryl Van de Velde, Kaye Lemberg and Ross Lemberg.

The Kirra Hotel, run by Tweed District president Greg Hodge, is the hangout for many former ARL/NRL players on the Gold Coast.

It is also a prominent supporter of the Foundation, with proceeds of weekly raffles going into the local committee’s coffers.

So much so that ‘Hodgey’ (right) handed over $10,000 to treasurer Paul Rimington.

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University of the Sunshine Coast scholarship award winner, Leone Smith.

Leonie off to US study trip Tony Durkin

Men of League Foundation member and Rabbitohs tragic Leone Smith will study in the United States later this year as a result of an award received from the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Leone and husband Ken, who rarely miss a Sunshine Coast committee Kick-Off Club event, will be away from home for almost eight months on the study tour which will also include a stay with their daughter Sheridan and her family in Salt Lake City.

“It is the trip of a lifetime for us,” says Leone who is a registered nurse employed by the University of the Sunshine Coast as the indigenous liaison support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying nursing and midwifery.

“I realise how fortunate I am to be given this opportunity and am grateful to the USC, firstly for the 34

Men of League Foundation

recognition they have conferred on me but also for this chance to study other programs and expand my horizons,” she said.

“But we will miss watching the mighty Rabbitohs each weekend, even though we will be able to live stream their games.

And I will miss our very enjoyable interaction with our fellow Foundation members at the KickOff Club events.”

In recognition of her providing cultural knowledge, curriculum advice and linking USC with the local indigenous community and health service providers, Leone received a Vice Chancellor/ Presidents’ Award in learning and teaching excellence in October last year.

She works with students across the four USC campuses, at Sippy Downs, Caboolture, Gympie and Hervey Bay.

The acknowledgement and the award – which has a $5,000 scholarship attached – has given Leone the opportunity to expand both her professional and cultural knowledge across the globe.

Leone will visit US universities which have similar supportive programs for native American nurses and midwife students, as well as attending a number of conferences.

Leone was born in Sydney’s western suburbs into a rugby league family. Her grandfather Jack Greatrix played for Paramatta Endeavours and was one of the early members of Wentworthville Leagues Club, her dad Ted Greatrix was a longstanding president of Granville Diggers and her brother Glenn played for ‘Wenty’.

Her son Brett has played for Nambour Crushers from a young age.

Steeden our new merchandise licensee

The Men of League Foundation has begun a threeyear association with world renowned Australian sports manufacturer Steeden - as its official sponsor, supplier and licensee.

The partnership, which will run until the end of 2021, sees Steeden extend its presence within the rugby league community, having been the official ball provider for the National Rugby League competition for more than 20 years.

Steeden also landed the deal to be the official match ball supplier to the English Super League, Championship and League 1 competitions plus the Challenge Cup and all additional England Rugby League programmes.

Men of League Foundation CEO Stephen Lowndes said the partnership is an exciting one for the Foundation.

“This is a move which will really enhance the profile and brand awareness of the Men of League Foundation and I would like to acknowledge Steeden for pledging their support to the men, women and children within the rugby league community in need,” Lowndes said.

“Steeden bring enormous insight and business acumen into the Foundation’s merchandising and apparel activities and an expansive retail distribution network.

“We are confident that it will really help us to attract new members and supporters through a very contemporary range of clothing and accessories as well as the sponsorship support they provide to us.

“2018 was a milestone year for the Foundation and we are aiming to extend our networks of assistance to unseen lengths in 2019.

“With brands such as Steeden joining our growing list of supporters, I am confident we can accomplish this.”

Steeden commercial manager Jon Clarke echoed Lowndes’ sentiments.

“We are delighted to be partnering with the Men of League Foundation and supporting their tremendous work within community assisting those in need,” he said.

“The full range of Men of League Foundation merchandise will be available shortly though both local sports retailers and the online store.”

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The Men of League Foundation team that operates out of the new head office at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence. Back (from left) Bruce Walker, Stephen Lowndes, Debbie Rowley, Tony Luck and James Rayment: Front: Jessica Macartney, Christina Rallis and Vanessa Bolzan (Kellie-Ann Furner was absent).

An organisation that is truly on the move Three new staff members and a new ‘home’ for the Foundation in Sydney indicates the fast development of the organisation, following on from the record million-dollar wellbeing spend in 2018.

New scenery and new staff have been the feature of the Foundation’s activities in recent months. There is a new Queensland state manager, Queensland events manager and national sponsorship manager and the national office now operates from the hightech NSW Rugby League Centre of Excellence at Homebush in Sydney.

The precinct, adjacent to ANZ Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park, features a full-sized training field, gymnasium, player recovery facilities, lecture theatre and office space as well as airy, modern offices.

The Men of League Foundation will join fellow tenants University of New England (UNE), Country Rugby League (CRL) and KARI Foundation within the exciting new facility.

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Men of League Foundation

The relocation provides a fresh environment for the Foundation which had spent the past 11 years working out of ANZ Stadium.

Part of the Men of League staff enjoying the new surroundings is recently appointed national sponsorship manager Debbie Rowley. The New Zealand-born Rowley is a keen Warriors supporter and joins the Foundation with a succinct focus on tapping into contacts and forging prosperous relationships for the rugby league charity.

“I don’t think there has been a heavy focus on ongoing relationships in the past so I’m looking forward to getting out there and growing our network to assist our wellbeing program,” she said.

Rowley has come from Duco Events where she was director of partnership and business development, a role that focused on managing sponsor acquisition for the NRL Nines, Global Rugby 10s and other major events, including the Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn

fight in Brisbane in 2017. She worked alongside former Canberra Raiders and New Zealand International Dean Lonergan, now a leading sports promoter.

The appointment of a full-time staff member sourcing ongoing funds is an exciting time for the Foundation.

Debbie was a key instigator in the development of Warrior Nation – a Facebook page that connects New Zealand Warriors fans in Sydney and coordinates sitting together at games to cheer their beloved boys on.

Andrew Blucher heads up the Brisbane office after an extensive career in sports management. He says developing a strategic plan and implementing innovative fundraising methods are just some of the goals of the new Queensland state manager.

Blucher joins the Foundation with a strong sporting background, having spent time at Netball Queensland and the Queensland Firebirds as general manager of commercial and sponsorship, as well as a stint as general manager of the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash cricket league.

Queensland state manager (left) Andrew Blucher and Queensland events manager (right) Jodie Watson.

provides access to education and training for family specific and general business development.

Her main projects were the annual lunch and national awards dinner, which places her in good stead for Queensland’s vast array of events spread throughout the calendar.

A sport lover of all kinds, Blucher is excited about the opportunity to grow with rugby league’s charity of choice.

The decision to join the Men of League Foundation team was one sparked by a desire to return to working in sport.

“My wife and some of my mates have been to Men of League Foundation events and everyone I speak to says great things about the Foundation; the events they run and the work they do,” he said.

“It mixes that not-for-profit business with sport and that was probably what I missed most in the last two years. I got on really well with everyone at FBA but craved to be working within a sporting element again,” Jodie said.

“There’s a great chance to build plans and strategies that make us more professional, allowing us to generate more funds and make a bigger difference in the rugby league community.”

Blucher played an integral role in the launch of the Heat in the Big Bash League, managing a team of 10 that oversaw sponsorship, licensing, marketing, events and match day operations.

“I’ll be aiming to broaden our network and do everything we can to support our volunteers and sponsors. Ultimately, it’s all building great relationships with people, harnessing greater community support and doing more to help people in need.”

He has been a keen Broncos fan since their inception in 1988. Before then, he was an avid Wests Panthers supporter in the Brisbane Rugby League competition.

Former Australian women’s water polo representative Jodie Watson joined the Brisbane team before Christmas as Queensland events manager.

She had spent the previous two years working for Family Business Australia (FBA), an organisation that

“To be able to enhance what the Men of League Foundation are offering, for example further engaging with women and children, is really exciting to me.”

Her desire to work in sport stems back to the years 1998-2004, where she was a member of the Stingers, the Australian water polo team.

Knowing that her career with the Stingers wouldn’t last forever, Jodie studied a Bachelor of Business and Marketing/Public Relations at the Queensland University of Technology to assist the tricky transition from elite sporting life to full-time work life.

Following an injury prior to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, she made the difficult decision to retire and accepted a role working in the high performance unit at Australian University Sport.

“I started off as part-time and casual before eventually moving into a full-time role, where my role involved managing the national teams that went away to University Games,” Jodie said.

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Pictured from left: Jessica Macartney, Adam Wild, Luke Brooks, Rachelle Wild, Ellie, Anne Traves and Barry Traves holding Ellie’s little brother Hudson.

Act of kindness Max Hope and Neil Cadigan

It’s well documented that the Men of League Foundation are there to assist the men, women and children involved in the game of rugby league.

Ellie’s parents Adam and Rachelle had to immediately relocate to Ronald McDonald House at Sydney Children’s Hospital Westmead.

When the Foundation signed an agreement with the Wests Tigers in 2018, an initiative to surprise members of the rugby league community with an ‘act of kindness’ was at the forefront of both parties’ minds.

Wests Tigers halfback and newly appointed Men of League Foundation ambassador, Luke Brooks, as well as mascot Timmy the Tiger went and visited brave Ellie and her family at Ronald McDonald House. On behalf of the Men of League Foundation and Wests Tigers, Brooks presented Ellie’s family with $2500 worth of fuel and grocery vouchers to assist them as they live away from home to support their little girl.

The Acts of Kindness initiative was agreed upon between the two parties, where they would join forces to surprise members of the rugby league community who were doing it tough with an Act of Kindness to lift their spirits.

Young Ellie, who was diagnosed in September 2018 with a rare form of leukaemia called T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, was the first recipient of the Acts of Kindness initiative. Her family moved to Sydney for treatment, uprooting their lives as they began this courageous fight together.

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Men of League Foundation

“It’s great to be able to come here and put a smile on their faces,” the Tigers halfback said.

Ellie comes from a rugby league family at Canowindra, north of Cowra in western NSW, who have contributed so much to the game and community. She has a kind heart, loves people and has a bubbly personality that lights up a room.

“One day you’re going through the motions, going to work and doing everything that everyone does and since that day, everything’s changed,” Ellie’s father Adam Wild, a chiropractor, said.

“We got a phone call from the specialist about three months ago and we’ve been here ever since.”

Brooks was firmly in support of the new initiative from his club and rugby league’s charity of choice.

“I think the Acts of Kindness is a great initiative from the Tigers and the Men of League Foundation, they’re obviously doing it a bit tough at the moment but it’s good to see their able to smile through these times,” he said.

Adam described Ellie as “just the most bubbly, beautiful little person you’ll ever meet”.

So, it was a shock when they received the diagnosis which saw them have to uproot their existence in Canowindra and relocate to Sydney during the many months of Ellie’s treatment.

“We have nine more months of in-hospital treatment, so what Men of League has done for us is invaluable,” he said.

“It’s gives us something less to worry about. We can just focus on Ellie and her recovery, her treatment and just making sure she’s okay. “ Rachelle’s father Barry Traves, a local massage therapist and life member of the Canowindra Tigers club, admits Ellie’s plight has been tough but is overwhelmed by the support from the towns people and the Foundation. His family has a long, active history with the Tigers.

His passion for rugby league is obvious and he is determined to keep the game healthy in the bush.

“We’re very passionate about the game and country football and trying to keep it going in a small town because you need that for the kids coming through and for somewhere to go on a Sunday to watch footy,” he said.

The Foundation’s national wellbeing manager Jessica Macartney said the Wilds/Traves are deserving recipients of the first Act of Kindness initiative as part of the association with Wests Tigers.

“They are involved in grass roots footy and sponsor at that level too,” she said.

“The relationship [with the Tigers] already has been super valuable for both parties and we will continue

Harrison Frear meets his idol Benji Marshall as wellbeing officers Norm Pounder and Alistair Turnbull and his father Phil look on.

to work really closely and maximise opportunities to assist the people in need in our community .

The second Act of Kindness activity with the Wests Tigers involved 18-year-old Harrison Frear, from Tamworth, who had spent many weeks at the Royal Rehab facility in Sydney following a spinal cord injury.

The avid Tigers fan was taken to the Tigers’ Concord base where he met the team and coaching staff, including his idol Benji Marshall.

“He came out and I sort of caught a glimpse of him and then he turned and had a jersey and an iPad (donated by the Foundation) and it sort of freaked me out a little bit,” Harrison said about meeting Marshall.

“I was a bit nervous and didn’t really know what to say.

It was an awesome experience, just once in a lifetime.”

Harrison’s father Phil Frear was quite emotional after seeing the joy the experience brought to his son.

“He met some of his heroes since the day he was big enough to know what a football was.

“He was a 2000 baby and that’s when Wests Tigers started and I still remember him sitting on my knee as a kid watching ‘Skando’ (John Skandalis), Benji and Brett Hodgson run around and they’re all still here today.

“To see the smile on his face and what you guys have done for him today,” he said of the Foundation’s gesture trying to hold back tears, “it’s fantastic what those guys (wellbeing officers) do. They give their time for nothing and they’re getting out and giving that little bit of joy and happiness into people’s lives and they don’t ask for anything in return.”

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Celebrating a record spend The Men of League Foundation is extremely proud to have reached an unprecedented height for their yearly wellbeing grants distribution of more than $1 million to the men, women and children of the rugby league community in 2018.

Founded in 2002 by Ron Coote AM, Jim Hall and Max Brown to give a hand to their old playing mates who had struck hard times, the Men of League Foundation has progressively grown to assist more than just past players, and today it supports men, women and children within the rugby league community who are faced with physical, financial or emotional hardship.

National Rugby League CEO Todd Greenberg said Men of League Foundation’s achievement was a fantastic way to cap off a great year for rugby league’s charity of choice.

“This wonderful milestone is a true testament to the dedication of the Men of League Foundation’s members, volunteers and staff and the hard work that they have put in for 2018,” Greenberg said.

“They continue to pledge their support to not just past players of the game but anyone with a connection to the great game of rugby league. On behalf of the

National Rugby League, I would like to congratulate them for their outstanding work and we look forward to supporting the Foundation again in 2019.”

Men of League Foundation CEO Stephen Lowndes was extremely proud of the 2018 wellbeing expenditure.

“I think the really salutary message here is that the word is now well and truly getting out about exactly what the Foundation is really all about – supporting those at the grass roots level of the game who have a genuine connection with it, but who are perhaps going through a difficult patch in their lives,” he said. ”And of course, on top of this record level of direct financial support and assistance, our team of volunteers do a fantastic job in simply supporting those in need of some emotional support, through home and hospital visits and our local committee events. We are looking forward to maintaining the momentum in 2019 – there’s plenty of need out there but of course we do have to make sure we are continuing to raise the funds to support our good deeds.

“Individual membership of the Foundation is most important to us, and we’d love to hear from local businesses as well, who might be interested in giving back to their local rugby league communities.”

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Partcipants in the mental health first aid course in Melbourne.

Vics lead way with mental health course Peter Foreman

The Victorian committee has for some time been looking for a way to proactively address the increased cases of mental health issues from within our game.

required to complete the online modules. This section of the course covered things like the prevalence of mental health problems in Australia and how to administer mental health first aid.

Following a whiteboard session with national CEO Stephen Lowndes and national wellbeing manager Jessica Macartney, the Melbourne-based committee came up with a plan of funding and running a mental health first aid workshop. We worked with NRL Victoria and invited representatives from the various NRL Victoria clubs to participate and we were ecstatic with the level of interest that we received from the clubs.

It also covered areas such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, substance and suicide prevention.

Once the ‘at home’ pre-work had been completed individually (about six hours) all participants assembled at the Melbourne Storm office on a Saturday afternoon to complete a four-hour face-to-face workshop session that was expertly conducted by Jessica Macartney. Following the workshop, the participants received their accreditation as a mental health first aider.

The workshop was run by Jessica, who is a fully qualified mental health first aid instructor, and the initial program was extremely well supported by the Victorian grassroots clubs who provided 15 participants along with Jason Fiddes and myself from the local volunteer committee. The program was fully funded by the Foundation via funds from Victoria’s long-term sponsors the Aces Sporting Club who have been so supportive of our committee since its inception.

All attendees were provided a copy of the mental health first aid manual that provided the information

The outcome of the course resulted in 17 people from the Victorian Rugby League family being trained in mental health first aid and being able to recognise symptoms and identify people from within our community that may require help and support. The feedback has been very positive.

Our overall objective is to provide all clubs the opportunity to have people trained in mental health first aid and the Victorian committee plans to fund and run a second course during the first half of 2019.

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Debbie takes on new territory Newly appointed Men of League Foundation national partnerships manager Debbie Rowley says she feels plenty of excitement about connecting the Foundation with untapped markets for new opportunities.

It is the latest area of the Foundation’s operations that has attracted new focus. The wellbeingcharity space has become a competitive one, that is developing and expanding quickly and the Foundation felt it had to keep pace by creating the new position.

Rowley will be based at the new offices at the NSW Rugby League’s Centre of Excellence at Homebush but will be covering plenty of territory in the corporate environment, trying to establish relationships and generate valuable funding which can go to assisting people in the greater league community who need assistance.

New Zealand-born and bred, and unsurprisingly a fanatical New Zealand Warriors supporter, Rowley joins the Foundation with a succinct focus on tapping into her own contacts alongside opening new doors and forging prosperous relationships for the rugby league charity.

“I don’t think there has been a heavy focus on business development or ongoing relationships in the past so I’m looking forward to getting out there to grow our network to assist our wellbeing program,” she said.

“I have come from a role as director of partnership and business development with Duco Events that focused on managing sponsor acquisition for the NRL Nines, Global Rugby 10s and other major events, including the Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn fight in Brisbane in 2017.

“There, I worked alongside former Canberra Raiders player and New Zealand international Dean Lonergan who is an extraordinarily driven entrepreneur which has most definitely rubbed off on me.

“Prior to this, I was head of business development at Event Hospitality and Entertainment where I worked with brands such as Event Cinemas, Rydges Hotels and Resorts and Atura Hotels.

“The Foundation can count on me to be proactive in my approach to sourcing new sponsors and taking the business development side of the charity to the next level.

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Men of League Foundation national partnerships manager Debbie Rowley.

“I don’t like sitting down waiting for leads, I get out there and knock on doors for contacts and tell the Men of League Foundation story.

“I want to recruit sustainable and reputable partners that the Foundation can see in the future alongside them. I love rugby league, I grew up with it and working in sport is where I would say I’m at my best.

“I was also a key instigator in the development of Warrior Nation – a Facebook page that connects New Zealand Warriors fans in Sydney and coordinates sitting together at games to cheer their beloved boys on.

“This is an exciting time for the Foundation and we are looking forward to securing amazing partners.”

If you would like to contact Debbie to chat about partnerships, call her on 0407 862823 or via email on debbie.rowley@menofleague.com

Primary Healthcare (Healius) FPA

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Remembering t The Foundation wishes to recognise the recent passing of the following people.

For more tributes or expanded versions visit menofleague.com Peter Dennis Peter Dennis passed away in November aged 88. He was a prominent Gunnedah pharmacist for many years and a long-term supporter of rugby league.

He played for North Tamworth in his younger days and was also hooker in the Gunnedah premiership team of 1956 when the side beat Armidale for the Group 4 title.

Dennis was also involved in boxing training and took a great interest in the fight game as well as rugby league.

Barry Ferny A tough and passionate league man, Barry Ferny won a premiership in third grade with the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1961 before moving to Parramatta where he made his first-grade debut (his only topgrade match) against the mighty St George team that boasted names like Norm Provan, Brian Clay, John Raper and Bob Bugden.

He was offered a coaching contract with Guyra and left the city for the rough and tumble country style of rugby league.

He also coached at Lithgow and Wellington, enjoying many friendships. Men of League’s Port Stephens committee officers made many visits to see Ferny in his final years as he battled mesothelioma.

Pratten Park Magpies association’s Carl Ross, Pat Hundy and Don Graham presented the family 44

Men of League Foundation

with the Magpies old boys’ memorial sash at Ferny’s funeral service. Port Stephens committee members Ray Newton and Les Bowditch also paid their respects to a loyal mate and loving dad.

Brian Frankland Born and raised in the heart of the St George region, Brian ‘Mick’ Frankland was a man who loved rugby league.

After growing up in Sans Souci and attending Kogarah high school, Frankland first pulled on a league jersey at 15 and represented Ramsgate United for numerous seasons before a badly broken ankle saw an end to his on-field career as a player.

He acquired his refereeing ticket in 1967 and began officiating matches in the local competitions, where he was well respected by players and coaches.

After the birth of his sons Steve and Craig, Mick turned his attention to coaching, winning a premiership with Brighton Seagulls and coaching Bexley Kingsgrove and Allawah over a period of 20 years. He progressed onto the St George Dragons SG Ball and Jersey Flegg sides. He was vice-president of the St George Junior Rugby League. He died, aged 80.

Steve Hall The game lost a great servant when Steve Hall passed away in March, aged 64. He had bravely fought cancer over the past few years but never lost his love for his family or rugby league. Known

to his friends and throughout the game as ‘Bear’, he was born in Walgett and first played grade with the Walgett Dragons, moving on to the Coonamble Bears before joining the Dubbo Macquarie Raiders. He later captain-coached Mendooran in 1982, which was the club’s initial season playing in Group 14 first grade and led them to premierships the following two seasons before moving on to Dubbo CYMS where he was captain-coach for four years, leading them to the 1986 grand final win (beating Forbes 64-0).

Hall coached Country Seconds against City in ’87 and coached Group 11 and Western Division as well as many junior representative teams. In 1992 he was appointed by the NSWRL as the first development officer in Dubbo, making him league’s first indigenous development officer.

He worked tirelessly for the next 26 years promoting the game.

Sadly, on the day he passed away, the inaugural Steve Hall Shield challenge match took place before the South Sydney-St George Charity Shield match at Mudgee, between the NSW Koori and Queensland Murri Indigenous under 16 teams. Hall is survived by his wife Margaret, his children Michelle and Steve, plus his seven much loved grandchildren.

Warren Kennedy Warren Kennedy, born in Cairns, played for Brothers while doing an apprenticeship and then he and a mate went on a working

those now gone holiday to Darwin and returned to Cairns 44 years later. It was in Darwin that Warren made his mark. He played two seasons with RSL before an ankle injury finished his career. He turned his hand to administration and he became president of the Darwin Rugby League and was awarded life membership, later adding life membership to Northern Territory Rugby League. He managed Darwin and Northern territory sides from 1981-1996 and struck up a great friendship with the late Steve Rogers who coached the NT side from 1991-96.

Ray Laird Mackay product Ray Laird played fullback for Australia at a time when there was a wealth of talent in the position. It is to Laird’s credit that he rose to such heights during an era when Graeme Langlands, Les Johns, Eric Simms, Ken Thornett and Keith Barnes had worn the green and gold.

Laird, who first honed his skills with the Mackay Magpies, played 18 matches for Queensland between 1963 and 1971 and toured New Zealand with the state side in 1967. He played for Australia in 1970, in the second Test against Great Britain at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He was chosen from the Rockhampton Railways club to replace the injured Langlands. The Brits won the 28-7, and Laird was dropped to make way for Allan McKean.

Laird and McKean finished their careers with just the one Test to their name after Great Britain clinched the Ashes series in 1970.

Laird’s extensive playing experience in regional areas saw him named in the North

Queensland, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba teams of the century.

He captained Queensland several times and was an inspirational figure at the back, directing play and barking orders. Laird passed away peacefully with his wife Betty by his side, aged 77.

Allan Mitchell Allan Mitchell, known affectionately as ‘Mitch’ to mates, played for the Fortitude Valley Diehards in the 1970s after switching from Brisbane Souths.

He went on to coach the Diehards’ Colts, under-21s and C Grade teams and managing Valley’s reserve and first grade sides.

He was a tireless worker for the ‘Royal Blue’, heavily supporting the club with fund-raising through his management of hotels within the Fortitude Valley catchment.

A memorial fun bowls day to remember an amazing man was held at the Norman Park Bowls Club in February. The Men of League Foundation would like to thank the Mitchell family for donating $800 of funds raised on the day to the Foundation.

Dennis Myers Dennis Myers began his league career with Cairns Brothers and soon gained selection in the Cairns Foley Shield side, winning the title in 1966 under captaincoach Alan Gil. He later headed south to captain-coach Texas and Dalby before returning to lead Mareeba Easts before joining Cairns Ivanhoes in 1971, where he became a highly respected stalwart over many years.

He would fill the roles of player, captain-coach, non-playing coach and president and was

instrumental in getting Ivanhoes junior club off the ground.

Myers turned his hand to refereeing in the early 1980s and established himself as one of the top whistle blowers, officiating in several Cairns grand finals.

Dennis married Anne Slade, from a family name synonymous with the Ivanhoes Football Club.

Kevin Neal Kevin Neal, who played for Canterbury-Bankstown and St George from 1959-1965, passed away recently and was buried in Sydney. Kevin played with Canterbury as a junior and went to the Dragons in the days of the great St George reign from 195666 before returning to play 28 first grade games for the Berries.

He later returned to the Dragons as a selector.

John Payne John Payne, who was chosen for Australia on the back of hugely impressive performances for Queensland against NSW in the 1975 interstate series, has died at age 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

As a player, he was a fiery redhead forward, who knew no fear but instilled fear in his opponents. Born at Woodenbong, in northern NSW, Payne played his first senior football for Wests in Brisbane and went on to also play first grade for Valleys, Easts and Norths in the old BRL, as well as having stints with Norths, Parramatta and Manly in the Sydney premiership. He played six matches for Queensland - five against NSW and one against champion English club St Helens, in 1975-76.

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In the 1976 BRL grand final, Payne scored Easts’ only point - a field goal - in their 16-1 loss to Wests at Lang Park, in front of a crowd of 37,000. Payne kicked the field goal just five minutes into the match, later revealing a sponsor had offered $50 to the first points scorer for the Tigers.

His final season was 1980 and by then he was playing at Norths Devils. They went on to win the premiership but Payne did not get to play in the grand final.

At different stages he was a brewery truck driver, publican and wine company representative and coached Souths first grade in Brisbane, as well as Easts reserve grade. There also was a stint as coach of Oakey in the Toowoomba competition.

Graham Porter ‘Dicky’ Porter has passed away, aged 70. Born in Tamworth, he spent almost all his life at Kootingal, a small town 11km away and worked at Fielders flour mill in Tamworth for 47 years before retiring three years ago.

He dedicated much of his time to sporting organisations, especially in rugby league.

Clubs and bodies he worked for included Bendemeer, Kootingal, Moonbi Kootingal rugby league clubs, Tamworth minor league, Tamworth junior league and Group 4 first and second divisions. He was a long-term member of the St George Dragons and a proud Men of League Foundation member.

Ryan Pringle Ryan Pringle was a true rugby league enthusiast who loved the game during his seven years on earth. He played for the Gatton Hawks and always had a ball in his hands, whether playing in the backyard or even inside with his siblings.

46

Men of League Foundation

The improvements he made on the field during his one season were incredible for all to see.

Allen Ryan While it is reasonable to wonder what might have been in the life of Allen John Ryan, it is better to reflect on all the wonderful things he achieved after becoming a paraplegic at the age of 17.

A nephew of former NSW winger Don Pascoe, Ryan was destined to play rugby league at the top level after representing Queensland in junior sides (alongside Wally Lewis on one occasion) and being a member of the feared Tamworth High School opens team. He was also a state-ranked golf and squash player.

It was while he was a student at Tamworth High, where he chose to finish his schooling, that Ryan suffered a mishap when he fell onto a submerged log in the Peel River, which would leave him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. (Ryan died, aged 59, in September last year).

After painful rehab, Allen joined the Queensland Paralympics Welfare Association. He tackled a wide range of sporting pursuits including swimming and track and field. He represented Australia in various events, in Japan and New Zealand, and broke several records in the pool.

“He was the greatest advocate for rugby league,” his mother, Lorraine Daniels (nee Pascoe) said. “He should have been a commentator. He had so much memorabilia and was a devoted supporter of South Sydney and NSW, as well as being a long serving member of Men of League Foundation.”

Richard See Long term Eastern Suburbs Roosters lock Richard ‘Dick’ See,

passed away on Christmas Eve in a Bronte nursing home, two weeks short of his 84th birthday.

A good all-round sportsman from his early days at Waverley College, Dick was an excellent rugby union and water polo player, as well as a first-class swimmer.

See grew up at Bronte and as a member of the Bronte swim and water polo clubs. He enjoyed a lot of success at water polo, playing with the Thornett brothers – John, Dick and Ken. In 1955 was selected in the Eastern Suburbs President’s Cup team which beat St George 23-5 in the final in the curtain raiser to the third Australia-France Test at the SCG. In the next season he made his first-grade debut for the Roosters.

He played eight successive seasons with the club, making 91 first grade appearances, including the 1960 grand final against St George (losing 31-6). He moved to Newtown where he played five first grade games before badly injuring a leg. For many years he had chemist shops in several Sydney suburbs.

Gary Hinkley Gary ‘Jinxy’ Hinkley passed away on Christmas Eve, aged 65.

A fine hooker for the Bomaderry club on the NSW south coast, winning a competition as captain in 1976 (the club’s only grade premiership) and the Group 7 player of the year award that had been taken by Michael Cronin for the previous six years.

He represented Group 7 and had several offers to play in Sydney but stayed in his hometown.

Hinkley was also a member of the Nowra-Culburra boat crew that competed at several Australian titles in the 70s-80s and was a keen golfer at Nowra Golf Club.

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The vision of Wellbeing & Education is “empowered for life and better people for being part of rugby league”

• Balanced in Life

• Wise & Ethical

• Authentic Leader

• Resilient & Self-aware

• Decision Maker

• Advocate for the Game

• Team Player

• Dedicated to Personal Growth

The NRL and RLPA Wellbeing and Education committee has driven the development of the games next four-year strategic plan.

This will focus on growing on the achievements of the past by expanding on the professional development of staff, continuing to elevate and reshape the effective programs and embed the importance of wellbeing and education throughout clubs and governing bodies.

“The game works hard to prepare players for the challenges of being an elite athlete while developing themselves for lifelong success.”

Paul Heptonstall, senior NRL wellbeing and education manager.

SUPPORT FOR LIFE

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The NRL/RLPA wellbeing and education pathway reaches over 4,000 players and they are supported at every stage of the elite pathway by programs and services delivered by qualified staff

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Men of League Foundation

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48

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Tom Symonds speaking at the NRL and RLPA Wellbeing and Education Rookie Camp.

NRL and RLPA Wellbeing and Education goals for 2018 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2022 1. Whole-of-game approach United whole-of-game approach to wellbeing and education.

Primary emphasis on the NRL system, while also supporting elite pathways and ensuring consistent messaging at all levels of the game.

2. Continuing to deliver the best programs

3. Proactively combating risk New, innovative and evidence-based programs that target areas of possible risk for certain individuals in areas such as mental health, gambling, diversity including culture, gender and LGBTIQ, alcohol and drugs, respectful relationships, addictive behaviours and concussion.

4. Valuing the function Truly embed wellbeing and education within the national and state governing bodies and club football departments.

5. Telling the story

Continuing to evolve the best practice, holistic programs and services that are focussed on producing quality people.

Improving industry understanding and support of wellbeing and education through communicating positive stories about the impact it has on performance, quality of life, strategic outcomes and the community.

This includes building on capability in key developmental areas such as career and study, life skills, positive choices and wellbeing.

This includes the development of a comprehensive research and evidence base, which may contribute to sourcing additional funding.

Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

49

Lending a helping hand

Tony Plater (centre) flanked by Lance Henry and Les Pearce.

Tony Plater Central Coast wellbeing officers Lance Henry, Les Pearce and Dennis Tomsett visited Tony Plater at his Bensville home.

Tony has mainly been confined to his residence for many months due to a rare infection, often leaving him in extreme pain. An English-based professor has been assisting with his recovery.

Tony, who has great support from his wife and family, was in good spirits and shared some of his stories of his rugby league playing days and memorabilia he and his family has collected over many years.

He played juniors with Erina and Gosford Townies before transferring to the North Sydney Bears where he played in the lower grades 1978-1980.

In 1981 he moved to Queensland and joined Valleys playing first grade alongside Ross Strudwick, Wally Lewis and Bryan Niebling.

He returned to the Gosford Townies and played in 1982 and 1983 before retiring.

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Men of League Foundation

(from left) Noel Willick, Garry O’Donnell, Denis Anderson, Peter Moses and Luke Sammut.

Morrisey (centre) with Tweed wellbeing officers Graham O’Callaghan (left) and Neil Pingelly.

Denis Anderson

Patrick Morrisey

Wellbeing officers Noel Willick, Peter Moses, committee member Luke Sammut and Western Sydney committee secretary Garry O’Donnell visited Parramatta Eels’ training venue - the Old Saleyards – to catch up with Eels gear steward of 45 years, Dennis Anderson.

Patrick ‘Snorkel’ Morrissey, 75, is now residing in a nursing home at Tugun but his rugby league feats during his playing days in the Lismore-based Group One competition are still talked about.

Denis, who was the Eels’ Michael Cronin Award winner as clubman of the year in 2013, has been going through a tough time with illness but was upbeat and jovial during the visit.

Denis was president of the Parramatta Junior Eels for 20 years and has helped out with representative teams. A self-confessed Eels tragic, he nominates Brett Kenny as the best player he has seen wear the blue and gold, followed by Nathan Hindmarsh.

His favourite all-time Eels are Steve Edge and Nathan Cayless, the “most annoying”, he says, is Michael Vella who just pips Shane Shackleton and Mark Tookey.

He is experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease but he rarely misses watching an NRL match on the big screen.

Close mate Dave O’Connor played with Pat at Casino and is a regular visitor to see him now and is quick to sing Pat’s praises.

O’Connor tells how Morrissey was playing in the under-18s for Casino when reserve grade coach Bobby Cook called the goal-kicking hooker to play in the grand final.

“He was 75kg when he went on to play prop in eight consecutive A-grade grand finals for Casino from 1962 and they only lost twice.

They won the Clayton Cup in 1967,” O’Connor recalls.

Greg Sylvester (left), Dick Huddart and John Lang.

He was captain-coach in 1978 and 1979 when Casino made both grand finals, winning in 1979.“ In 1970 Morrissey transferred to Kyogle for four seasons, winning the premiership in 1971.

The visit by Frank Stanton (right) lifted the spirits of ‘Dickey’ Sullivan.

in the Sydney competition, Dick Huddart, who was a premiership winner with St George but has been a long-time resident on the Gold Coast.

‘Dickey’ Sullivan

Townsville wellbeing officers Helen Sugars (left) and Natalie Turner with Ryan Francis and his partner Emily Holroyd.

Ryan Francis Townsville Men of League have been providing support for 26-year-old Ryan Francis who is on a slow road to recovery from open heart surgery.

He played in 11 senior grand finals for Casino, 10 in the top grade, only losing three times.

Andrew ‘Dickey’ Sullivan’s eyes lit up when Manly legend Frank Stanton walked into his lounge room.

After feeling sick one morning late last year, Ryan was within four minutes of losing his life.

Morrissey was named Group One player of the year in 1977 when he played under coach Bob Lulham at Casino when he was 34.

“I used to watch you play when I was about 14,” former Australian player and coach Stanton told Sullivan, who played many years of lower grades and one first grade game for the Sea Eagles.

Quick action by his family and the ambulance had him delivered to the Townsville General Hospital for immediate surgery lasting six hours.

He captain-coached South Lismore in 1982 and 1983 before retiring at the age of 41.

Dick Huddart The Gold Coast Men of League committee members were extremely busy during December preparing and distributing Christmas hampers.

The numerous thank you messages the committee received from the recipients (mail, electronics and phone calls) makes this service all worthwhile.

One such recipient was former Great Britain Test second-rower and pioneering English player

They were quickly throwing names back and forth and reliving great moments at their famous club. ‘Dickey’, who turned 92 last Boxing Day, gave away his regular bowls games and his wife Lyn said he had been “down in the dumps” so she rang Tweed District committee.

Secretary Tom Cassin organised a visit to Dickie’s Tweed Heads home and naturally included Stanton.

Dickie was five-eighth in the Manly President’s Cup side which won the competition in 1946, the year before the Sea Eagles were promoted to the top competition.

After suffering a stroke during the operation, he was placed in an induced coma in the ICU for two weeks during which he also had a seizure.

After these setbacks, brain trauma would be the main battle in his day-by-day rehabilitation.

Townsville wellbeing officers Natalie Turner and Helen Sugars have been supporting Ryan They report that Ryan is a fighter and hope his rugby league background playing for Ignatius Park College, Townsville Brothers and two years with English club Leeds will help him in his recovery.

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Kitchen duties ... Men of League Foundation, Wests Tigers and NRL staff become McDonald’s workers for a day.

Meals from the Heart Max Hope

Something as simple as cooking a meal for someone can go a long way.

That attitude was at the forefront of the Men of League Foundation’s staff members’ minds who volunteered their time as part of the Meals from the Heart program at Ronald McDonald House on Monday 18 February.

For 365 nights a year, up to 60 families sleep under the roof of Ronald McDonald House Westmead, coming and going to and from the hospital each day because they need to be close to their children when they are receiving vital medical treatment.

“Parents and family members are committing their entire focus and energy to support their loved ones and sometimes figuring out something that can seem as simple as what to have for dinner can be an overwhelming task, Walker said.

“Offering our time to help these families, who have already been through so much, is time well spent when they say thank you.”

The Meals from the Heart program invites teams of co-workers or community groups to have a hands-on opportunity to directly show their support to those families.

“The circumstances for people being at Ronald McDonald House are sadly not of good fortune and it’s not as easy time,” Men of League Foundation NSW state manager Bruce Walker said.

Assisted by some generous volunteers from the Wests Tigers and NRL, the Foundation’s team were all handson-deck as they compiled a number of delicious meals together for the families of unwell children.

It was an experience that Walker says is made even more special when you see the joy it brings to the recipients.

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Men of League Foundation

caption

Committee News Bowls Club on 6 March and his presence, and input, was warmly acknowledged.

Brisbane

Steve Ricketts, publicity officer The Brisbane committee has consolidated its relationship with the Broncos, Wynnum-Manly and Redcliffe leagues clubs in the first few months of 2019.

Broncos Leagues Club at Red Hill is undergoing major renovations but club manager Joe Kelly has done everything within his power to accommodate our committee’s Kick-Off Club lunches.

And to illustrate the empathy he has with the Men of League Foundation, our charity was a beneficiary of a huge function at the Broncos, the last in the old auditorium, which is making way for club improvements.

The Brisbane committee’s first Kick-Off Club lunch for 2019 was held the day before the round 3 Broncos v St George Illawarra NRL clash at Suncorp Stadium with Chris Johns and Mick De Vere the interview subjects.

Johns and De Vere played their first senior football at St George before joining the Broncos.

Wynnum-Manly hosted a function at their leagues club, ahead of a home game against Redcliffe in Round 3 of the Queensland Intrust Super Cup. The theme of the lunch was ‘rugby league hookers, the job of the men who were more than dummy halves, back in the day’.

There is talk of Redcliffe holding a reciprocal lunch later in the year, especially as the new Moreton committee of the Men of League is looking to show case its credentials.

Former Valleys player Peter Affleck, a member of the Brisbane committee, has worked hard with Redcliffe officials to establish the new entity, which still has strong ties with Brisbane. The first official meeting of the Moreton committee took place on 13 February.

Brisbane committee member Reg Green did a terrific job at the hugely successful Redcliffe golf day, signing up 18 new members.

New Queensland state manager Andrew Blucher attended a Brisbane committee meeting at Ithaca

Men of League members were well represented at the funeral of former Queensland firebrand forward, John Payne at the Brisbane suburb of Stafford on 28 February. John was a regular at Brisbane Kick-off Club lunches.

Central Coast

Dennis Tomsett, publicity officer Our annual general meeting was held on Sunday 3 February. Don Parish retired from his position of president, which he had held for 12 years. Don is recognised for his passion and input for the success of the Foundation and his tireless efforts in steering the committee to very high levels of achievements in fund-raising and ensuring those people of the rugby league family who had fallen on hard times received appropriate support in their times of need.

The new people elected to our executive include president Eddy Johnson who has been involved in rugby league on the Central Coast for many years as a player, administrator and coach and is currently involved with the Central Coast Andrew Johns Cup side. Noel Annand accepted the position of vicepresident. Noel has been involved with rugby league at Woy Woy for many years and has been a great supporter of the Foundation.

Our bowls day was held at the Ettalong Bowling Club on the 25 February with 120 bowlers participating.

This was a very successful fund-raising event.

Players were dressed in their favourite rugby league colours with many of the local and NRL clubs being represented.

Once again a big thank you goes to the Ettalong Bowling Club directors and staff for their support in making the day a great success. We certainly appreciate your continued support. Also, a special thank you to the businesses, clubs and individuals for their generous support in donating the bowls prizes, raffle and auction items.

Eddy Johnson welcomed and thanked the bowlers for their continued support of this annual event. A special presentation was made to Don Parish

Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

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by wellbeing officer Les Pearce as recognition of his service to the Foundation. NSW state manager Bruce Walker attended and gave an overview of the new membership fees.

The Shelly Beach Golf Moaners Club early this year presented the Foundation with a cheque for $2000.

Many thanks to the Moaners Club for their continued support of the Foundation.

Details of State Of Origin luncheon, race day and golf day will be provided to members when confirmed.

The committee would also like to thank the Kestrel Rhinos rugby league team who made a $2000 donation to the Foundation ahead of the bowls day, adding to the $1700 donation made by the Battle of the Mines team at last year’s event.

(from left): Brett Phillpot, Allen Foskett, Ian Fennell and Don Parish.

Australian Test legend Steve Walters with (left) Chrissy Walters and Greg Coase.

Central Highlands

Far North Queensland

More than 100 eager bowlers hit the Emerald Bowls Club greens on 9 March for our sixth annual bowls day, raising funds to care for the men, women and children of the rugby league community.

The Far North Queensland committee held a very successful bowls day at the West Cairns Bowls Club on 18 November with all rinks full. A large number of Cairns District Rugby League Old Boys rolled a few down that day with former Foley Shield stars of the 60s in Stan Williams and John Skardon snr joining the young lions of today from the Northern Pride on the green.

Cameron Stallard, publicity officer

The day also saw Men of League national CEO Stephen Lowndes and Canberra Raiders great Steve Walters visit Emerald to join local Origin representatives Alan McIndoe and Steven Bell on the bowling greens.

Central Highlands president Mick Roach said the day was a huge success with over $9500 raised.

“Once again, the Central Highlands community have made the bowls day a huge success with over 28 teams taking part in this year’s event,” Roach said. “I’m proud to announce that we’ve raised over $9500 for the Men of League which is a fantastic achievement for the Central Highlands committee.

“Thanks to everyone for their much-appreciated support on the day.”

54

The Central Highlands committee would like to thank Haymans Electrical, DGH Engineering, Quarries of Queensland, Refelec, Emerald Tyrepower and Opposite Lock, Repco Emerald, Western Gateway Motel, Keato’s Signs and the Jenkins Family Trust for sponsoring the day and the Emerald Bowls Club for hosting the day.

Men of League Foundation

Kevin Maher, OAM, publicity officer

The AGM was held at Brothers Club on 3 February with national CEO Stephen Lowndes in attendance.

John McAlister was returned as president with Greg Ryan and John Moore as his vice-presidents. Chey Bird is secretary with Rob White and Richard and Christine Muirhead heading up wellbeing activities, Kev Maher doing publicity and Peter Narducci looking after membership.

The committee will hold its third annual golf day in conjunction with the Bulls Masters at the Cairns Golf Club on Friday 24 June and a good attendance is expected once again.

Back to the Game functions are planned for Innisfail and Mareeba and dates will be published when they are decided so as to fit in with home games for the senior clubs in the CDRL.

Overall winners were the team of WJ Bennett, Craig Botting, Kevin Whelan and Yvonne Boer and best sponsors team was the On Course Golf Shop Kevin Law, Brett Dioth, Richard Kingston and Michael Beck.

A Friday evening function is also planned for Jones Park, home of the Cairns Junior Rugby League, to show support the under-16 junior competition.

Minor placings were taken by the teams from Alice n Pallas Therapy Centre and Murray Barnett Plumbing (who also won best dressed team).

The day concluded with Wally Fullerton-Smith telling tales about his former playing days including some interesting stories of a tour of England.

Men of League member John ‘Scrawny’ Franks of Mundubbera is a happy man after receiving a motorised scooter in December.

John can now get around town a lot easier helping to sell raffles and doubles for the Mundubbera Tigers Rugby club and volunteer at the local historical society. Keep up the good work ‘Scrawny’.

Connor Jones, Stan Williams and Will Bugden at the bowls day.

Fraser Coast Jeff Bacchi, secretary Former Australian and Queensland representative Wally Fullerton-Smith joined the field of 132 players at the annual Maryborough Men of League golf day held on Sunday 21 November. The day was again supported by major sponsor Auswide Bank in addition to 22 other sponsors and a large number of prize donors.

All who attended enjoyed fine weather and a course in great condition, which was reflected by low scores

Another very successful sports dinner was held at the Beach House Hotel in Hervey Bay on Saturday 9 February with 174 excited supporters listening to special guests, former Test playing brothers Kevin, Kerrod and Steve Walters.

Andrew and Brett Walters joined their brothers at the event. MC for the night was David Shillington and it proved to be a most enjoyable night with guests asking when the next one is to be held.

The Queensland state wellbeing manager Mark Bunting kept the crowd speechless when he showed videos and explained just what Men of League does for the men, women and children of the rugby league community. More people are offering to join and help out after hearing what we do for the community.

Happy golfers after the successful Maryborough event.

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Thanks to Mark for a special part of the evening and thanks to our special guests for making the night a great success.

Dates for the diary: Hervey Bay golf day on Friday 8 August; Maryborough golf day on Sunday 24 November and our sports dinner on Saturday 8 February 2020.

Gold Coast

Greg Sylvester, publicity officer We have made several wellbeing visits since the new year began and it is pleasing to report that Dean Lance has been released from hospital after being admitted with Diabetes type-A, while Frank Stanton, Greg Rousell and Ron Turner have recovered from operations for cancerous melanomas, Elsie Dimond from a broken arm, Matt Petersen from a double hip replacement and Gold Coast committee president Lloyd Evans has received a good report from his oncologist.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing Bobby Dimond has been readmitted to hospital, Bob Wonders has had to surrender his driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s licence due to ill health and Paul Yates has passed away.

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Men of League Foundation

A great night was had by all at the Gold Coast gala dinner on Friday 8 March.

The special guests were Kiwi international Clinton Toppi, record-breaking referee Bill Harrigan and Immortal Mal Meninga. Clintonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s speech on his work dealing with depression and physical violence in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society was extremely well received, while Bill had the audience in the palm of his hand as he regaled many hilarious incidences of his refereeing career.

Mal enthralled the audience with his details of his career while playing with Canberra, Queensland, Australia and as coach of Canberra and Australia.

Mal also elaborated on his very short political career.

Neil Cadigan is to be congratulated on a terrific job as MC. His interviews with the guests were both enlightening and humorous. Thanks Neil, we greatly appreciated your contributions.

A very special thanks to all the many Australian, Great Britain and New Zealand internationals who attended the evening.

We give our considerable thanks to the staff at Burleigh Bears Leagues Club for their assistance in creating a memorable night for everyone.

Gympie

Mid North Coast

Greg Pountney, secretary

Michael Stone, publicity officer

Our aim for this year is to revitalise Men of League in Gympie. We have a number of strategies in mind. We hope to recruit additional members for our committee.

We are negotiating with a new venue which we believe will be an excellent location for our Kick-Off Clubs.

Our eleventh annual golf day on Friday 22 February witnessed a record turnout of 148 golfers at the picturesque Forster course.

As all committees know, having the right speakers is a major part of attracting good numbers to any Kick-Off Club. However, all committees also know that this is a continuing challenge as these people are highly sought after. Hopefully we can meet this challenge and see attendances improve this year.

We continue to do what we can in the area of wellbeing and this will be helped by the decision of Kerrie and Ian Moulds to settle permanently in Gympie. Our major fundraiser this year will be a raffle run in conjunction with the Gympie junior development program. We run this every second year and we’re confident it will be again be a success.

We are aiming to have Andrew Blucher at our first Kick-Off Club in early April.

Mid West

Darrel Passeri, publicity officer The Mid West committee held their first Kick-Off Club with their newly formed committee at Bathurst in February with former Balmain, Easts and Canberra forward Terry Regan guest speaking. Regan is no stranger to Bathurst, having played for Railway in the 1980, the side that went on to win the Group 10 premiership that year. He reflected on his career while talking about the work that Men of League do with the rugby league community.

The night was well attended by players and ex-players from local clubs from the Group 10 League with Cowra Magpies presenting a cheque for $3000 from their memorial challenge day held annually. Mid West president Royce George is passionate about this cause and endeavours to continue building the Foundation.

A monumental effort of getting shirts to all competitors, registration, breakfast and all players to the tees for an 8am shotgun start was nerve-wracking as always. But, with the co-operation of everyone, we succeeded. Notable attendees included Paul Dunn, Mal Cochrane, Jim Swift, Jim See (looking after an all-girls team), Jim Leis, Dennis Tutty, John Baker, Joe Thomas, Gary Bridge, Paul ‘Nobby’ Clarke, Tas Baitieri and Harry Wells. Everyone played for the Michael Adams Memorial Trophy for a second year. Michael was a wonderful supporter of the Foundation and we were especially privileged to have his wife Chris and family travel from Tamworth to support the day.

We could not have such a successful day without the support of our major sponsors Mick Perry Concreting (for the 11th successive year), Forster Tuncurry Golf Club, Forster Holiday Village, who accommodate our celebrities, and Evermore Retirement Village. Also the Royal Hotel in Taree and Wingham Beef Exports for their donation of prizes. It was fitting the team representing Wingham Beef Exports won the day John ‘Bomber’ Peard destroyed the lunch gathering with his usual hilarious performance.

It has been a difficult time for our little committee.

Marshall Loadsman, known locally as the ‘Voice of Rugby League’ in Group 3, suffered a severe stroke prior to Christmas and is making slow progress in a nursing home in Forster. Cheryl Rayment, wife of secretary Kevin, is having her own health issues as is Vince O’Brien. As for myself, I will be undergoing surgery early next month in St Vincent’s Private Hospital as the prostate cancer has returned for a third time.

A golf day was hosted three weeks later at the Bathurst Golf Club, a very positive event raising awareness and fundraising and also new memberships.

The weather was superb, the hospitality was great and the award-winning course in immaculate condition. The golf techniques? Maybe a bit less sophisticated! NSW state manager Bruce Walker attended both of these events.

The winning team from Wingham Beef Exports accompanied by Christine Adams and President Brian Atherton.

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Moreton Greg Pountney, secretary

Trevor Bailey, president

The Moreton committee, previously a sub-committee of Brisbane, was officially formed as a stand-alone operation at a members meeting Wednesday 13 February. Darryl van de Velde chaired the meeting and eight members were appointed to the formation of the committee.

We had a busy end to the 2018 year, especially with our wellbeing team being active within the rugby league community, assisting those who were experiencing hard times.

We had a highly successful inaugural golf day on Friday 22 March at the Redcliffe Golf Club. The club is to be congratulated for its excellent presentation of the course and despite challenging winds some great scores were had across the four-ball Ambrose teams. A number of businesses supported the event through sponsorship and prize donations including a substantial raffle.

Andrew Blucher had only just taken up his new role as Queensland state manager and over lunch he shared his background and initial thoughts on the opportunities ahead for the state and the Foundation more broadly.

It was a very enjoyable day that has firmly set the foundation for an annual event that will no doubt be struck in members’ calendars. We also grew the membership by 18 on the day, including three gold memberships.

On the wellbeing front, the Foundation provided financial and emotional support to Laura Shakespeare, a Realway Junior Dolphins (Redcliffe) mum. This ‘feel good’ story is separately outlined within this magazine and provides further awareness of the significant difference that Men of League contributes in the healing process of individuals and families.

Participants at the first annual golf day at Redcliffe.

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Northern Sydney

Men of League Foundation

They visited private and nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centres and completed many follow up visits to previous recipients. Utilising the Men of League van which has wheelchair access, we conducted outings for our wheelchaired colleagues, including a surprise outing for Harrison Frear from Royal Rehab to Concord Oval where he was surprised and thrilled to meet his NRL team, Wests Tigers.

We are also pleased to report that our Royal Rehab clients Josh Farr and Rex Cochrane have returned home after completing their rehab. We wish them well. The 2018 Christmas and immediate relief shopping vouchers allocated to specific clients were well received.

Our Kick-Off Club at North Narrabeen Surf Cub was well supported and tuned out a great success. We thank Ken, Norm and Fred for their amazing work.

Now we look forward to our next major event, our annual golf day, to be held at the scenic Mona Vale Golf course on the 17 May, sponsored by our good friends at Brookvale Mazda who will give a chance to win a new Mazda with a hole in one. Get in early to book your spot.

Finally, we sadly advise the passing of our respected friend Dempsey Joy.

Port Stephens

Charlie Elias, publicity officer Newcastle Knights legend Danny Buderus and league commentator Andrew Voss entertained around 145 sporting enthusiasts at the Port Stephens Committee luncheon at Soldiers Point Bowling Club last Friday.

The pair exchanged commentary on the vastly different paths that propelled them into the league limelight. ‘Bedsy’ talked about his early days playing in the backyard of the family’s Taree home and how his misguided attempt as a junior to join St George earned him a spot with the Knights, where he went on to captain his club, state and country.

Voss, who lost his father at age eight, told how he found comfort in listening to Frank Hyde, Rex Mossop and Ray Warren as a young fan. A signed Men of League cap was presented by Buderus to Fingal Bay’s John McKiernan, a talented league player who has been confined to a wheelchair since 1983 following a serious car accident.

Foundation state manager Bruce Walker said that in 2017 the Foundation spent $400,000 on wellbeing. In 2018 that figure more than doubled to in excess of $1 million. “And that would not happen without the support of Foundation memberships and fundraising days.”

captain Cameron Smith. Anthony Seibold’s appearance runs a close second. The new Broncos coach, who held assistant NRL roles at the Storm, Sea Eagles and Rabbitohs before being named Dally M coach of the year at South Sydney in his debut season last year, spoke for more than an hour and enthralled all with reference to his contemporary coaching techniques.

Seibold was also able to renew acquaintances with some of his former coaches. He reminisced that Sunshine Coast committee president Don Oxenham, a former QRL coaching director who was in charge of a QRL coaching camp he had attended in Brisbane when he was 14, while his former London Broncos mentor John Monie was also in attendance.

The Sunshine Coast committee has secured sponsorship from Wealth Management firm Ord Minnett, Sunshine Coast, to support its Kick-Off Club events in 2019. The sponsorship, announced by Sunshine Coast managing partner of Ord Minnett, Mark Davidson, at the February Kick-Off Club means the cost of attending the events will remain at $20 for Men of League Foundation members. Mr Davidson said his firm was delighted to be given the opportunity to support the committee and assist with what he described as “the wonderful work you do in the community”.

“I am a big fan of rugby league and have attended numerous Men of League functions on the Sunshine Coast,” he said. “While I have always been impressed by the professional manner in which the events have been presented and staged, a couple of the guest speakers have driven home to me some of the realities of life after football.

“Steve Price, Petero Civoniceva and Scott Hill were very high-profile ex-players who spoke about the difficulty in mentally transitioning from the game to normal life. And in our line of business we notice the same thing when people retire from the workforce.

John and Janet McKeirnan with Danny Buderus.

Sunshine Coast Tony Durkin, publicity officer New Broncos coach Anthony Seibold went close to helping break an attendance record in February as special guest at the first Sunshine Coast Kick-Off Club for 2019. The Mooloolaba Room at Mooloolaba Surf Club was bursting at the seams as 204 members and guests packed in to hear the impressive young coach speak publicly for the first time in his new role.

Since the Sunshine Coast committee was founded in 2007, just on 60 bi-monthly Kick-Off Club events have been held, with regular attendances around the 100 mark. The record crowd - in February of 2017 - was 218 to hear then Australian, Queensland and Storm

“While we are obviously readily accessible to members who may be seeking guidance with their wealth management, our major objective in sponsoring the Sunshine Coast committee is to show support to a very worthwhile charity.”

Anthony Seibold (right) with (from left) Chris Lawlor, John Bourke and Reg Cannon.

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Southern Sydney

Bruce Thompson, secretary The year has started well for our recently re-elected committee, having staged a successful Kick-Off Club for about 60 guests.

League legends Steve Mortimer and Jason Nightingale answered questions about their stellar careers, the game in general and mixed freely with the group afterwards.

A number of past players attended including Souths captains Herb Timms and Bob McMillan, St George premiership winner Graeme Wynn and Canterbury halfback Phil Young.

We have an exciting year ahead with the following functions already in the planning phase: 17 May – ‘Derbies through the Decades’ – Sharks v Dragons luncheon at Sharkies 12 June – rugby league trivia night at Sharkies 30 August – ‘The 1979 Grand Final – 40 Years On’ at St George Leagues.

Stephen outlined new initiatives that arose from the bi-annual conference and highlighted some of the challenges the Foundation will face going forward.

Thanks once again to our host Arthur McMahon of Lilywhite Hotels for the hospitality, also to outgoing treasurer Garry O’Neill who served the committee for nine years and vice-president Glen King who have retired from their positions.

They have been replaced by Barrie Page and Helen Sugars respectively while we welcome new committee member Russell Caldwell.

The Townsville committee would like to wish rugby league identity Grant Bell a successful recovery from his unfortunate bicycle accident which resulted in horrific leg injuries.

When ex-North Queensland tough man Will Cordwell was informed that his mate Grant had badly damaged his knee, Will replied: “Belly hasn’t got any knees!”

Fundraising is no easy task these days so we appreciate two local clubs, Kirwan Sports and Thuringowa RSL, for allocating the committee days to conduct raffles over recent months.

Our major art union this year will be a catered ten-seater box donated by the North Queensland Cowboys for the 23 August clash between Cowboys and Panthers.

It will be drawn at the Cowboys v Broncos game on 21 August when we will also be active at the LGIA Community Hub. We encourage all members to support us in these ventures. Ring our convenor Barry Peters on 0419 730 792 or treasurer Barrie Page on 0419 237 262 for tickets.

(from left): Steve Mortimer, Graeme Wynn, Phil Young, Herb Timms and Bob McMillan at the Kick-Off Club.

Please keep on supporting our rugby league community.

Townsville

Tuggerah

Townsville has been through a very trying time following our ‘Sunday Floody Sunday’ on 3 February.

Many of our members were affected but on the positive side just as many were involved in helping those in need.

The Tuggerah Lakes committee has commenced their activities for the year with the traditional Kick-Off Club at the Grand Hotel, Wyong.

Barry Buchanan, publicity officer

We were very pleased to welcome our national CEO Stephen Lowndes to our 2019 annual general meeting held at the Riverview Tavern.

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Men of League Foundation

Greg Tunn, publicity officer

Fifty members and guests were welcomed by new president Neville Glover and all enjoyed the hospitality and generous support of the hotel. We are delighted to have Neville as our new president.

He is a tireless worker for Men of League, travelling thousands of kilometres around the state each year supporting fund-raising activities.

Western Sydney

We’d like to also thank outgoing president Denis Smith for the wonderful job he has done in the last four years.

Men of League Foundation Western Sydney committee has been blown away with the generosity and support from our past two events.

Denis was instrumental in establishing our Tuggerah committee and has played a prominent role in all our activities, particularly in wellbeing and organising our annual golf day.

In September we held our sports luncheon and, wow, what a great day, with a $20,000 cheque presentation from Smithfield RSL to donate to the Men of League Foundation.

Denis has a great passion for the wellbeing of everyone involved in rugby league and has indicated that he will continue to be part of our wellbeing committee.

We had rugby league and racing royalty guests with Mick Cronin, Bob ‘The Bear’ O’Reilly, Peter Wynn, our MC Nathan Cayless, John Peard, horse racing caller John Tapp, trainer Clarry Conners, jockey Jason Collett and comedian Paul Martell.

This committee was very busy over the Christmas holidays period in making hospital and home visits and supporting families and individuals who were experiencing some financial or health problems.

Kylie Murphy, media officer

With 220 in attendance at Smithfield RSL, Peter Wynn interviewed Cronin and O’Reilly. Our secretary Garry O’Donnell interviewed Tapp, plus there was great food, drinks, auctions and raffles.

Another busy year is planned with more Kick-Off Clubs and a bowls and golf day.

We cannot thank Smithfield RSL enough for hosting our luncheon and for their $20,000 donation.

We wish everyone in the Men of League family all the best in their endeavours during the year.

March saw our bowls day held at St Johns Park Bowling Club with over 150 people participating.

It is also a fantastic venue with great bowls and great food on offer, plus a member of the board of directors attended and made an amazing $10,000 donation to the Men of League Foundation.

Tweed District

Graham Callaghan, publicity officer The Tweed District golf day at the CoolangattaTweed course on 3 May is shaping to be another outstanding success. Secretary Tom Cassin, who is in charge of the popular event, says it looks like being a sell out again.

Eight weeks out from the golf day Tom had 14 teams with cost per player at $125.

“All details are on our website and we have received plenty of inquiries,” he said.

MC Michael Buettner interviewed league legends Royce Simmons and Eric Grothe (snr). Other special guests were Terry Lamb, Michael Vella, Steve Ghosn, Brett Clark, Tim Barnes, Jersey Komorowski, Eddie Flahey, Col Bentley, Chris Yates and Denis Fitzgerald to name a few.

A huge thank you goes to St Johns Park Bowling Club, David Marsh, special guests, sponsors and everyone who attended.

“Our AGM is at the Kirra Hotel on 31 May at 10am and arrangements are being finalised for our State of Origin luncheon.

“The Kick-Off get-together is at Tugun Leagues Club in July and Greg Cox is again in charge of our popular John Strong Community Awards Bowls Day on 27 October, again at the Coolangatta club.

“Our Christmas party is on 8 December and the venue is to be decided.”

From left: Nathan Cayless, Jason Collett, Western Sydney secretary Garry O’Donnell, Clarry Conners, president Stephen Winbank, John Tapp, Bob O’Reilly and Mick Cronin.

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All Stars game was not as successful, however we take the view that every little bit counts.

Victoria

Peter Foreman, president The Melbourne team have had an excellent start to the year, having completed a number of activities during the first quarter of the year.

We had 69 players attend the annual golf day at Keysborough Golf Course and an excellent day was had by all. Storm CEO Dave Donaghy again joined us for the day and was interviewed about the season ahead. We are very fortunate to have an excellent relationship with the Storm.

Our great mate Greg Brentnall travelled from Wagga Wagga for the day and played in the winning team along with Darren Foreman, Neville Schmidt and Linda Wilson. The raffle outside the ground at the

We are planning on conducting our annual AGM at the AMMI Park coffee shop on Friday 26 April starting at 8.30am. All paid up Victorian members are welcome to attend.

The Werribee Bears Rugby League Club recently ran a cocktail party with funds raised being donated to the Men of League Foundation, resulting in a donation of $600 and a number of new members.

The Bears have also taken the initiative in appointing two Men of League ambassadors from within the club to encourage membership and act as links to our committee.

The Bears are also encouraging other NRL Victorian affiliated clubs to replicate the initiative.

Federals team of the century Men of League Foundation’s NSW state manager Bruce Walker was one of many special guests at Wests Ashfield Leagues Club when one of Sydney’s most tradition-steeped junior clubs, Enfield Federals, announced its team of century.

And what a team it is, showing what extraordinary talent the club located in the western suburbs of the city produced. It boasts six Australian internationals and a Kiwi Test player. They are Graham Mackay, Hazem El Masri, Denis Pittard, Tim Pickup, Robbie Farah, Jim Serdaris (Australia) and Jason Williams (Kiwis).

And that’s not counting Western Suburbs Magpies stalwarts Wayne Smith (176 games) and his brother Rod (73 games), Tony Ford (667 points in 104 first grade games), John Armstrong (111 games), Neville Sinclair 217 grade games, 48 in first grade) and one of the most naturally gifted NRL players in Scott Gale.

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More than 200 people watched ARL team of the century member and Magpies legend Noel Kelly present the jerseys as Joel Caine announced the team to an audience that included celebrated businessman John Singleton, former Magpies Test player John ‘Chow’ Hayes and Wests Ashfield chairman Mike Bailey.

The Federals began in 1912 and have a proud history. They have produced many other regular ARL competition first graders including Bruce Beer, Brett Gale, John Purcell, Brett Clark and Leo Epifania.

Coach Alex Smith, who died eight years ago, had an incredible winning record with the club and is the father of team of the century members Wayne and Rod, plus Rob who also played for the Magpies.

The team is – Fullback: Tony Ford. Wingers: Graham Mackay and Hazem El Masri. Centres: Wayne Smith and Ken Hey. Fiveeighth: Denis Pittard. Halfback: Tim Pickup. Lock: Rod Smith.

Second-rowers: Neville Hornery and Jim Serdaris.

Props: John Armstrong and Sid Walsh. Hooker: Robbie Farah.

Interchange: Solomon Haumono, Jason Williams, Scott Gale and Neville Sinclair. Coach: Alex Smith.

Magpies past players reunion The “Pratten Park Magpies” which is the Past Players’ Association of the Wests Magpies is holding its Annual Reunion on Saturday 27 July during the day at Wests Ashfield Leagues.

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BMD is proud to be supporting Men of League for the third year in a row as naming rights sponsor of the BMD Qld Wellbeing Program.

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