Men of League - Issue 67

Issue 67 – June 2017

Ron Coote

Reflects on 15 eventful years John Farragher An inspiration to others Caring for the men, women and children of the rugby league community

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In this edition 5 6-8 10-12 14-15 16-17 20-21 22-23 25 28-29 29 34-35 37 38 39 40 41 44-45 48-49

Ray Warren John Farragher Ron Coote Des Morris Alex Ramsay Bryan Niebling Billy Johnstone Stan Mildwater Richard Johnston Bob Moon Graham Lena Meet our new staff Qld history committee news Wellbeing v welfare Back to the game Port Stephens committee Mick Adams Chris McKivat

From the

chairman

Professor the Hon. Stephen Martin

It is with a sense of pride and anticipation that I write my first chairman’s message. To follow in the footsteps of such an icon as Ron Coote, AM, is both an honour and a challenge.

Ron has made a remarkable contribution to the Foundation.

His guidance has seen us recognised as rugby league’s pre-eminent provider of wellbeing services to the men, women and children who are the fabric of our game. He will continue to be the face of our Foundation for many years to come and we will continue to benefit from his observations.

Plus the regulars 18-19 Events calendar 24/30 Committee profiles: North

West NSW / Rockhampton 26-27 Helping Hand 32-33 Around the Grounds 42-43 Tributes 46-47 NRL Wellbeing and Education 51-62 Committee news

We would also like to recognise the contribution of Robyn Coote who has been an enthusiastic and generous supporter of both the Foundation and Ron during the past 15 years, during which much of their family time was devoted to the needs of the rugby league community. On behalf of all of our members I say to Ron – done well, played strong.

Editor: Neil Cadigan (editor@menofleague.com) Design: Nine Ounces Phone: (02) 4311 2266 www.nineounces.com Deadlines: Deadline for submitted material for the next edition: July 28 2017

As we look to the future, we know our organisation must evolve. Modern corporate

National Board of Directors

Patron: The Hon. John Fahey AC Honorary President: Ron Coote AM Chairman: Prof. the Hon. Stephen Martin Treasurer: Geoff Thoroughgood Directors: Brad Howell, Alan Sullivan QC, Alan Tongue, Darryl Van de Velde, Helen Wood Grant Wellbeing Committee

Ray Beattie OAM, Garry O’Donnell, Ben Ross, Geoff Thoroughgood, Ken Vessey

Executive

governance requires that our charter is underpinned by policies and procedures that help those in necessitous circumstances according to the many requirements that rightly need to be observed. Our ability to deliver these services depends on financial sustainability.

Your national board is committed to providing the necessary leadership in this respect. To assist this process, board sub-committees, assisted by external advisers where necessary, have been created. We are confident this will significantly improve specialist oversight and thus our service delivery.

The strengthening of our qualified team has progressed with the appointment of our new CEO Frank Barrett. I welcome Frank’s appointment and the opportunities it presents us.

I thank you all for your continuing support. Without this support many of the rugby league family quite simply will not receive the assistance they so desperately need.

Chief Executive Officer: Frank Barrett frank@menofleague.com Financial Controller: Emile Assaf emile@menofleague.com NSW State Manager: Ben Ross ben@menofleague.com Events & Community Engagement: Jessica Schwartz jessica@menofleague.com Database Manager: Richard Mills richard@menofleague.com Interim Qld State Manager: Darryl Van de Velde darryl@menofleague.com Qld Wellbeing & Education Officer: Mark Bunting mark@menofleague.com Qld Administration: Belinda Perry belinda@menofleague.com Qld Events Manager: Samantha James samantha@menofleague.com Media & Marketing: Nine Ounces ahenry@nineounces.com

Head Office/NSW Office

Level 3, Eastern Grandstand, ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127 PO Box 7049, Silverwater NSW 2128 Phone: 02 8765 2232 Email: admin@menofleague.com QLD Office

QRL Central, 83 Castlemaine Street, Milton QLD 4064 PO Box 1217, Milton QLD 4064 Phone: 07 3367 6080 Email: qldadmin@menofleague.com

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Your Men of League local contacts New South Wales Canberra Monaro President: Noel Bissett 0407 597 533 Secretary: Susan Gerrard 0406 378 086 Central Coast President: Don Parish 0414 353 141 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 Newcastle Hunter President: Garry Leo 0400 421 767 Secretary: Peter Corcoran 0413 453 473 North Coast President: Peter Barrett 0414 227 068 Secretary: Terry Clark

South Coast President: Chris Burke 0438 236 606 Secretary: Carol Weller 0408 478 043

Gold Coast President: Ian Amos 0417 005 180 Secretary: Wayne Thompson 0413 818 807

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

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

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

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

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

Mackay President: Paul Hudson 0450 737 130 Secretary: Alf Abdullah 0417 752 694

Tuggerah Lakes President: Denis Smith 0415 433 976 Secretary: Terry Wand 0438 521 736

Rockhampton President: Shane Nipperess 0407 267 955 Secretary: Dominique McGregor 0411 446 939

Tweed District President: John Strong 0421 971 586 Secretary: Tom Cassin 0407 457 661

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

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

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

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

Toowoomba Region President: Andrew O’Brien 0417 748 489 Secretary: John Dent 0400 046 214

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

Townsville President: Mark Williams 0409 894 427 Secretary: Terry Feeney 0488 000 899 Victoria President: Peter Foreman 0439 533 171 Secretary: Greg Brentnall 03 8412 4905

North West President: Don Pascoe 0477 132 456 Secretary: John Campbell 0408 421 065

QLD and Affiliated States

Northern Rivers President: Phil Chesham 0402 305 498 Secretary: Tony Cicchinelli 02 6621 3096

Brisbane President: Ian Gatenby 0412 038 013 Secretary: Vance Rennie 07 3350 6436

Northern Sydney President: Trevor Bailey 0414 843 600 Secretary: Jim Phelan 0419 414 759

Bundaberg District President: Terry Dodd 0414 526 828 Secretary: Greg Pershouse 0416 242 566

Penrith President: Alex McKenzie 0414 330 651 Secretary: Adam Przybyla 0407 847 312

Central Highlands President: Mick Roach 0439 079 686 Secretary: RJ Stewart 0407 766 841

Port Stephens President: Chris Kelly 0418 652 857 Secretary: Peter Arnold 0404 872 018

Far North Queensland President: John McAllister 0409 722 455 Secretary: Chey Bird 0409 251 187

Riverina President: Kel Tilden 0457 319 700 Acting Secretary: Ian Lloyd 0457 850 384

Fraser Coast President: Kev Embrey 0427 250 545 Secretary: Jeffrey Bacchi 0419 729 857

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Northern Territory President: Dave Cannon 0428 895 211 Secretary: John Barry 0417 732 660 Western Australia President: James Sullivan 0414 733 083 Secretary: Justin Reid 0403 012 252

QLD State Committee Acting Qld State Manager: Darryl Van de Velde Chairman: Darryl Van de Velde Vice Chairman: Pete Psaltis Treasurer: Tony Woodgate Committee: Ken Brown, Mark Donlan, Darryl Foster, Wally Fullerton-Smith, Ashley Tulley, Greg Veivers, Jason Cubit

Ray’s Wrap RAY WARREN The voice of the game and league’s greatest TV broadcaster Ray Warren

Got to stop in-season player merry-go-round This exchange of players between clubs and the constant speculation, seemingly all-season long, about who is signing where is annoying isn’t it? I don’t have an answer to it but I do know it takes away from so many great things the players are achieving on the paddock.

People say the NRL should restrict clubs from signing players until the end of the season but, really, do we honestly believe anyone in or around rugby league can keep a secret until then? The media would be overflowing with rumour and prediction. Of course, managers will do deals in secret anyway.

Mitchell Moses – part of Wests Tigers’ all-consuming player merry-go-round, now an Eel in the same season. Photo: NRL Imagery.

Now, to the other subject that has been generating too many headlines – illicit drugs which again has become a problem for the game, and moreso, for society in general. No matter how much time and effort is put into educating players about the pitfalls, it doesn’t seem to be getting through.

Mal Meninga believes we need to toughen up. I think I read him correctly in that he is asking for a 12-week suspension of any player found guilty for the first offence instead of a slap on the wrist. For a second offence – deregistration is the way Mal would go.

The debacle at Wests Tigers is a shame. Since they merged after the 1999 season, even with the 2005 premiership thrown in, things have been frosty at board level, which generates an image of instability.

The Magpies have the money but they are anchored by the Tigers and their apparent lack of it.

Then I listen to Paul Conlon, the judge and former judiciary chair, and he warns that stern punishment is not necessarily the answer; education and rehabilitation is. He also can’t understand why footballers need to be more penalised than the average man in the street or the lawyer or the doctor.

So how long do you think this will last? I don’t think the Maggies want to drop the Tigers brand but I sense they might be thinking of ways to obtain more authority and where best to spend their money. In other words, they want more clout.

Then there is another school of thought – if every player who has dabbled in illicit drugs was suspended or stood down, there wouldn’t be enough players to go around.

I don’t know which answer is correct but it appears the current way of dealing with this is not working.

For starters, it should have always been called the Western Tigers. Wests Tigers intimates the Tigers are owned by Wests but nothing could be further from accurate (but really that is a minor issue).

Anyway ... back to what we’d prefer to talk about: the NRL competition on the field. With about one third of competition rounds played, I believe a couple of grand final specialists have already confirmed they are in the running but the jury is still out on quite a few others.

We all love the Magpies and Tigers but how long can it go on like this? Personally, I am sad to see those three young men – Mitchell Moses, Aaron Woods and James Tedesco – leave their teams. I love to see the talent spread around. It will take a lot of rebuilding for the club though after losing three of their best performers.

I am referring to Melbourne and Brisbane. I am very impressed with both of them. Let’s see what the rest of the season brings them if they stay healthy.

Keep well. Rabs.

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John Farragher and son Jake … their bond is very special.

A life without barriers John Farragher’s first grade career lasted seven games before being cut short by a tragic on-field accident … yet his influence on, and love for, rugby league has endured. By Neil Cadigan When John Farragher’s rugby league playing days ended in tragic circumstances 39 years ago, it was replaced by a life as quadriplegic that he could never have comprehended would become his fate.

No one will ever know how good a footballer the prop from Gilgandra in western NSW might have become.

What is unquestioned though is that he has become an incredibly tough, inspiring and positive man that has transcended far past the football field he may have long graced.

He has received an Order of Australia Medal, been chosen as Penrith City’s citizen of the year, had the boardroom at Panthers and the club’s ‘courage and determination’ award named after him and enhanced the lives of a passing parade of leagues club patrons and staff by his warm nature.

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Except for the hundreds who weekly walk through the doors at Panthers World of Entertainment, which was Penrith Leagues Club two blocks away when Farragher was first given employment there in 1982, the 60-yearold has retained a fairly private life in a wheelchair.

In March, Peter Sterling conducted a wonderful interview with Farragher on his Fox Sports program ‘Sterlo’ and his incredible spirit showed through. Yet what never comes across in interviews of that nature is the true level of tribute the subjects themselves deserve.

I was at Henson Park that Sunday afternoon, as a young reporter in my first season with the now defunct Daily Mirror newspaper, when Farragher’s life changed.

Like all those present – and there were only 4752 – I’ll never forget the event, 21 minutes into Farragher’s seventh first grade appearance, on May 28, 1978.

I’d also watched his debut weeks earlier at Redfern Oval against Jack Gibson’s Rabbitohs. Not long before, we’d run a story about the bunch of new boys at the Panthers – Farragher, Ross Cale, Paul Merlo and rugby convert Ken Bousfield who had been stationed at a small property tagged ‘The Ponderosa’ in what was primarily the rural area of Cranebrook.

“When we finally went into his room it was very upsetting to see him lying there in traction with bolts in his head.

Innocuously, like so many of the time, a scrum twisted around and folded and referee Richie Humphreys blew a scrum penalty, which happened a dozen times in most games.

“Days turned into weeks, then months.

As both packs peeled off the ground, one body did not move. John Farragher’s.

This was decades before the current stringent protocols had been introduced for such events. First, the Panthers and Jets trainers rushed on the field. Next, entered the St Johns ambulance officers, who sat sideline at all matches. Soon after, Newtown and Australian team doctor Bill Monaghan joined them on the field.

So too did an ambulance.

Then the match resumed … and the shocked Panthers went on to win 21-5.

Few people realise that the 20-year-old captain of Penrith that day was current Panthers football club boss Phil Gould (Penrith’s coach was Men of League’s Central Coast committee president Don Parish).

Gould has greatly admired since Farragher’s courage and attitude to his greatly altered life.

This is how he remembered that fateful day, and subsequent weeks: “It all seemed so simple. The scrum collapsed.

The referee called a penalty. As we walked away from the scrum, John yelled out. He knew he was in trouble straight away.

“They were very careful getting John from the field.

If not for Newtown trainer Les Motto, I don’t think anyone there really would’ve known what to do.

“At half-time we were told it wasn’t good and that John had no feeling in his body.

“We played the second half on pure emotion.

We knew that winning wasn’t going to fix John’s condition, but we sure as hell didn’t want to lose.

“We went straight to Royal North Shore Hospital after the match and spent every day there that week waiting for some news [in shifts by teammates]. We weren’t allowed to see John until later in the week.

“None of us felt like playing that weekend. We never trained at all. It was John who asked us to play. I will never forget it.

“John was a quadriplegic and he would never recover.”

John Farragher, very much a shy country boy in 1978, explains: “Predominantly I played open side prop but I played blind-side at Penrith. The scrum just collapsed … gave way underneath me. I got it wrong; it fell down on top of me. I fell head-first with the weight behind and on top of me and I knew I was in trouble straight away.

“The feeling sort of just drained in me from my feet, all the way up my body.”

Told two days later he would never walk again, Farraghar – like so many others who suffer spinal injuries – was determined to prove them wrong.

He could not.

What has inspired and impressed thousands who have met John Farragher since, and the many more who have not but know his story, is how he has never blamed the game. He still loves league with passion.

And that what makes John Farragher’s story so compelling for those who might believe life has dealt them a dud-hand. “I don’t think there is anyone more pro-rugby league than myself,” Farragher says.

Panthers on the Prowl general manager Brad Waugh, who was on the bench after playing reserve grade that day and remembers the tragic twisted scrum as “totally innocuous” until his mate never left the ground, replaced Farragher as a regular Panthers prop.

He says he had never once seen his mate “bitter and twisted … not for one day.”

Nor has the person closest to John Farragher, the son he was told he would never have, Jake, an inspiring story himself who gives his father credit for what he has driven to achieve in his 28 years.

The bond between John and Jake is deep.

“I believe in God and I think he was heaven sent; I love him that much,” said John. Returns Jake: “He gives me a reason to get up every morning. When it gets a bit hard … when you look at people complaining; I think life’s not that hard for them, or for me.

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“I’m lucky to have him … very lucky.”

Jake says he wasn’t particularly talented at rugby league and in his mid-teens he turned to freestyle kayaking and was good enough to make the Australian squad. However, he wouldn’t let go of the challenge of playing rep football so trialled with the Titans and Sharks, got through with both clubs, but elected to play for the ‘Shire’ club. He played five games in the National Youth League’s opening season in 2008 and hasn’t played league since.

“I was never going to make it as a footballer but I didn’t mind hard work; I was pretty fit and I think that’s why they picked me,” is his humble assessment of his ability.

He’s still a “fitness freak” who enjoys boxing but has directed the incredible Farragher willpower, into a business career. The trait dates back at least to John’s father Noel who until recently was still shearing and, at 83, still ‘rousts-about’ western NSW, including the 40-hectare property near Gilgandra that John bought for his parents.

Six years ago, Jake began a chain of health food cafes called The Nutrition Station which has several franchises throughout NSW. Waugh’s son Brock has joined him in the business. John has proudly attended the opening of several outlets and when asked by Sterlo what he was proudest of, his reply was direct: “My son.”

His pride in Jake was borne from the impact John has made on his son in the little challenges John overcomes every day so far away from the football arenas he could have graced and beyond the image of the seemingly ever-happy wheelchair bound employee at Panthers.

“Seeing what dad’s gone through; I think he is the toughest man I have ever seen. I don’t say that lightly,” says Jake. “I see what he has to go through on a daily basis and a lot of people see the wheelchair and just think it’s a normal person and you just get up with it.

He physically can’t do anything.

“The way he conducts himself is the reason he has lived so long. He doesn’t whinge about anything; he’s just a tough man and a good man too. He does a lot for a lot of people that he doesn’t want praise for.

“I have never heard him once blame footy; never. And I have lived with him just about all my life. It wouldn’t get him anywhere; he just gets on with life.

“He’s had a massive impact on my attitude to life, and work. More like just not giving up. Day in, day out, dad has his routine that never shifts and I’ve adopted that. That’s a reason I have been able to succeed in my business.”

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Gould maintains his admiration for John Farragher’s boundless positivity that impacts on others. He sees him most days at Panthers, where John is an iconic figure to the locals since being the first point of contact as people came through the front doors when he began his three-decade work life there.

“I’m sure John has had his moments, in private,” Gould said.

“But he has never presented himself as anything other than positive and enthusiastic about life. I have never heard him bemoan his injury. I’ve never heard him bitter or critical of the game of rugby league.

“In fact, he once told a team of young footballers, that if he could get out of his wheelchair and walk again for just one hour, he would spend the whole hour playing rugby league.

“John is especially encouraging to young players.

He takes a special interest in youngsters who join Panthers from country areas, like he did 39 years ago.

“John works every day in the Panthers club. He knows everyone in Penrith. He is always inviting people over for a guided tour of our new RL academy [which John has tagged ‘Gus’s cubby-house’], giving them gifts and Panthers gear.

“He raises money for charities. He is always looking to help people. John is a very special human being.

Panthers is so lucky to have him.”

For two decades John has relied on his carer Tom Petrov who arrives at his home at 5am, representing just another special friendship Farragher has forged despite his disability.

He loves thoroughbred racing and has an interest in a horse with Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher, a good mate.

He loves having mates around for a barbeque and heading out on the Nepean River, or back in the bush, fishing (mates load up his rod and bring in his catch).

And he loves working at Panthers, meeting people and showing off the place that still is his world nearly four decades after wearing the old ‘chocolate soldier’ brown and white jersey for those few months.

“The Panthers have been fantastic since day one … they have looked after me the best I could have been looked after; there is nothing they haven’t done for me,” he says of the club.

And that is the other side of the coin which ensures John Farragher’s life remains one of the most moving stories in rugby league.

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My 15 fortunate years One of Men of League’s founding fathers and chairman since its inception Ron Coote has decided to move on from the position after 15 dedicated years, although he will remain involved in the newly created position of honorary president, a role unique to him.

The former Australian Test lock and premiership-winning player looks back over a decade and a half in an interview with magazine editor Neil Cadigan.

What has given you the most pleasure over 15 years?

Being able to build the Men of League Foundation throughout Australia, and to bring rugby league people together to help those in need.

Go back to the start, the early meetings, where did you expect the Foundation to go?

Being a McDonald’s licensee in the early days, I have had the opportunity to watch the Foundation grow to the empire it is.

Men of League has saved so many other lives, how has it changed yours?

Men of League has given me the opportunity to give back to rugby league a little of what the game has given me, and that has given me great pleasure and reward.

I knew that from a small inspiration big things grow.

For you it all began with a chance meeting with a former footballer when you were visiting someone in hospital, how do you look back on that moment now and what it has led to?

Seeing Doug McRitchie, a great St George player of the 50s, in Milton hospital on a Saturday afternoon with no visitors, moved me to think that we needed an organisation to inform the rugby league community who was doing okay and who was down on their luck. It’s a tribute to our members, volunteers and key supporters that we have had hundreds like Doug McRitchie benefit from support in the years since.

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I didn’t imagine the Foundation would become as big as it has, but it was definitely something that was needed in the community.

What about where it is now – what are the aspects you’re most proud of?

I think the Men of League is in a great place with a growing membership and having distributed over $4 million in wellbeing in the last 15 years.

Along with generous support from our sponsors and key partners, each year all our committees hold three to four functions to fundraise for wellbeing.

The committees are the lifeblood of the organisation and that is certainly what I am most proud of. The organisation would not exist without the committees.

The gala dinner in Sydney and gala luncheon in Brisbane have become a big part of league’s social calendar and are spectacular events – what was the thought behind that?

Graeme Hughes came to us with the idea of the gala dinner. It had a two-fold objective. Firstly, it was a social gathering and, second, it was to raise money for wellbeing. The first gala dinner was held at the Sydney Convention Centre at Darling Harbour. I will never forget walking into the room that night with 500 people at a black-tie affair. Graeme’s wife Narelle was the event manager that night. Together they did a great job and we also raised a lot of money. That’s what got us started.

Your best memories from gala dinner nights over the years?

They have all been great nights. A few really stand out as special though. We had Anthony Warlow singing some of his Phantom of the Opera songs which was fantastic. The Captains’ Captain (the greatest Kangaroo captain of all time) was also a stand out.

The night when Garry Longhurst, suffering from Motor Neurone Disease, attended the dinner with his family, and his daughter Megan, who had received a Men of League scholarship, sang on stage, was the epitome of what we stand for. It was a truly remarkable night and I am sure that anyone who attended that event will remember it forever. Megan still attends our gala dinners. This year’s 15th anniversary dinner will be a real milestone moment for me.

Any achievements or wellbeing situations that are dearest to you?

There have been many worthy rugby league people who we have been able to help. Bobby Smithies (fullback in Balmain’s 1969 grand final winning team) is one that comes to mind. Bob was on a hospital waiting list to have a heart defibrillator inserted and somehow his name was lost. Eighteen months later he had not heard from the hospital and was going downhill.

He came to the organisation for help. Through our contacts, we were able to get him back on the list and be operated on. The word from the doctor was it was just in the nick of time.

Who are some people you really would like to pay tribute to outside of the Foundation?

One of the good things that we did when the organisation started was to apply to the Federal Government to gain charity status. A contact with Blake, Dawson and Waldren was able to do it pro-bono. It saved Men of League a huge amount of money in taxes and enables us to pass that benefit on to our recipients. It is the highest level of charitable status possible and requires equally high governance standards. Brian Fullmer has been one of our great supporters. He brought AMP in as our first major sponsor. They continued to sponsor us for 10 years. We would not have grown to where we are without that sponsorship. Kerry Packer was also a great supporter. He gave us our auction items every year at the gala dinner, including a $50,000 advertising package on Channel Nine. John Hartigan, from News Limited, always donated a full-page advertisement for our silent auction items. Gary Johnston, from Jaycar, attends our functions and since coming on as a sponsor has certainly been a really wonderful supporter of the organisation. Billy Gilmour, the former Australian tennis player, has been a great supporter and donated our bus that we still use for wellbeing visits. John Singleton, ICAP and Michael Zann from Icons of Sport have also been great supporters.

Can you quantify how much has been raised to help others – although I know the value of what the Foundation does goes well behind dollar contributions?

We have spent over $4 million on wellbeing for people in the rugby league community who have fallen on hard times. The functions we hold to bring rugby league people together may start out quiet and sedate affairs but after 10-15 minutes the camaraderie creates a real energy pretty quickly. Plenty of storytelling and laughter always makes a great night.

And the support from within?

There are so many people that have been involved in my last 15 years at Men of League. From all the talented current board members to committee members, volunteers, advisors, friends and colleagues. Some have had more than one role.

The amount of support I have had over the last 15 years has been unbelievable. It has not all been smooth sailing and there have been some really difficult times but I have certainly had some stalwarts in my corner who have been unwavering in their support,

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loyalty and friendship. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all. A special mention goes to my great mate John Fahey, for his great direction and leadership.

In the early days, John was a wealth of knowledge for the organisation and helped steer us through difficult days. I value his friendship and loyalty and have so much respect for him. The dedication I brought to the organisation would not be possible without the love and support from my family but especially from Robyn, my wife. She has been, and continues to be, my greatest asset. She has played many roles over our life together and I thank her for everything.

A lot of emphasis has been to get recently retired players, even current players involved, and to take ownership of the Foundation moving forward. How well do you feel that is being achieved?

Our Foundation is owned by its members and committees and lead by the national board. Current player wellbeing is not part of our charter – their clubs and the NRL have many programs in place. However we welcome their input as ambassadors. Only a small percentage of our wellbeing spend goes to helping ex-players. The volunteers of the grass roots game and the women and the children of the game claim most of our funds. We would love more involvement by everyone but to get current and recently retired players involved is very difficult. Everyone is so busy.

Ideally the best solution, in my opinion, would be for all current players to become members and support the organisation and then, when they retire, should they fall on difficult times the support would come to them.

The NRL and ARLC have been wonderful supporters. They see the importance of such an organisation. How was that achieved and how do you describe the association?

David Gallop made office space available at no cost in the beginning. Peter Simons operated out of the office in a voluntary capacity and then Martin Cook took over as our first paid manager. John Grant from day one and then Dave Smith (former NRL CEO) had a great belief in the organisation and really developed our partnership. For the past five years we have had financial assistance from the ARLC, which has been 12

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fantastic and has allowed us to do the great work we do.

We have an increasingly close relationship with the NRL welfare and community areas and I would personally like to thank all involved for that.

Of course, you will still have an attachment to the Foundation and will still contribute – was that important?

Men of League is obviously very important in my life.

I am very honoured to take the role of president.

To be able to still be involved in this great organisation, helping people who have fallen on hard times, will always be a big part of my life. I am grateful to the national board for creating this honorary role for me.

Are there any comments, or discussions, with someone over the years you can recall which has brought home to you best just what Men of League is about and how it has changed the league landscape?

There are many. One stands out. John McCleod [former Wests, Canberra and Brisbane player who has lost both legs among other health issues] rang me when we first started and said he needed some help. I said: “John, we haven’t got any money yet” and he replied “I don’t need money, I just want someone to talk to.” I told him that’s easily fixed and I organised Jack Gibson and Bob McCarthy to make contact with him. He rang me six months later and said: “I’m OK now, I don’t need any more phone calls.” I think that is what the Men of League is all about. Helping our mates out whenever we can.

You’ve been down the south coast for a while, what will occupy Ron Coote’s life now?

I live in a beautiful place. I look forward to all the wonderful things retirees do, like spending time with family and friends, playing golf (which needs a lot of practice I must say), gardening, travelling, fishing and having spare time. With the growth of the organisation, it has certainly taken up a huge amount of time, which is fantastic, but I feel it is time for me to step aside and still be able to keep involved. But driving up and down the highway as often as was required is something that I’m very happy will not be as necessary this year as it has been for the past few. We have two sets of traffic lights where I live and if you get two red lights it’s ‘a bad day’.

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Seagulls celebrate feats of ‘82 Wynnum Manly’s Brisbane premiership victory of 1982 is remembered by many.

It was the Seagulls’ first when they were coached by Easts Tigers legend Des Morris. The team reunited recently in Brisbane. By Steve Ricketts The 1982 Brisbane Winfield Cup – Wynnum Manly’s first.

Just a month out from the 1982 Brisbane Rugby League finals series, Wynnum-Manly Seagulls were rated contenders in some quarters, and pretenders in others.

The previous year, with Des Morris as captain-coach, they had finished the season in the top four, only to bow out to eventual premiers Souths 16-12 in the preliminary final.

Morris had decided to hang up the boots to concentrate on coaching in ‘82, but Wynnum failed to make the finals in either the Woolies pre-season competition or the inaugural Winfield State League.

By late July it was crunch time for the club, as they chased their first ever Brisbane premiership. After being thrashed 20-7 by Redcliffe, questions were being asked about their ability to handle big match pressure.

Former Test prop Rod Morris, the younger brother of Des, had come out of retirement after three seasons with Balmain in Sydney and was seen as the steadying influence required in a squad which featured attacking aces Gene Miles, Colin Scott, Brett French, Terry Butler and Brian Walsh.

In the run home to the finals, Wynnum faced competition leaders Valleys, premiers Souths and strugglers Easts and Wests.

Wynnum beat Valleys, Redcliffe and Easts, but then, in one of the season’s great upsets, went down 26-9 to Wests in the final round, with veterans Greg Oliphant and Norm Carr showing the way for the Panthers.

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“That loss didn’t affect our confidence,” Morris said, as members of the 1982 side gathered recently to celebrate the 35th anniversary of that history making season. “We knew we had the team to get the job done when it mattered. “We made a lot of errors that day against Wests, and there was no way we were going to make the same mistakes in the finals.”

Wynnum belted Redcliffe 35-0 in the knock-out semi-final and two weeks later beat minor premiers Valleys 26-5 in a brawling preliminary final, with Butler scoring three tries. Wynnum five-eighth Walsh had the match of his life against Valleys’ Test star Wally Lewis, who was heavily marked by the Seagulls.

Valleys coach Ross Strudwick said the 10-6 major semi-final loss to defending premiers Souths had knocked the stuffing out of his side but he still believed Wynnum would have too much pace for the Bob McCarthy-coached Magpies in the grand final.

Strudwick’s words proved prophetic although for much of the 80 minutes it was a titanic defensive struggle.

“The win was a lot tougher than the final score of 17-3 indicated,” Morris said. “We only led 7-3 at half-time and that was the score deep into the second half. We had to defend grimly for long periods. It was a gritty win.”

Wynnum took a 12-3 lead after Souths’ fullback Ken Spencer spilled a bomb and Brett French pounced to score near the posts. When former Thirroul halfback Peter Dawes scored with 60 seconds remaining, the Lang Park terraces exploded in green and red pandemonium.

Compère Steve Ricketts chats with Des Morris at the reunion.

That was nothing compared with scenes back at Wynnum Leagues Club that night, with an estimated 10,000 people crowding into the club and surrounds, something that was not to be replicated in Brisbane until the Broncos won their first NSWRL title in 1992.

“The next morning, I returned to the club and there were still so many people and cars,” Morris said.

“I thought they were waiting for the club to re-open.

Turns out they hadn’t been home. The celebrations continued later down at Greene Park, opposite Fisher’s Pub. Thousands of people just came and went, just wanting to be part of history.”

Brisbane hosted the Commonwealth Games in ensuing weeks but nothing at the Games compared with the scenes of delirium on the southern bayside.

Rod Morris and Miles were chosen in the Kangaroo touring squad to PNG, Britain and France, with Morris hanging up the boots after the history-making undefeated tour.

Members of the ‘82 Seagulls squad were feted at a joint Wynnum Leagues Club/Men of League luncheon, prior to the Wynnum Seagulls v Redcliffe Intrust Super Cup match at BMD Kougari Oval at Wynnum on April 9.

Those in attendance included players Colin Scott,

Warren Green, Brett French, David Green, Gary Seaton, Wayne Bullock and Peter Sibley; coach Morris; sprint coach Lindsay Jones; fitness trainer Jim Ryan and secretary Bruce Cory. Also there was Neil Moy, a centre with the ‘81 Wynnum side who went on to carve out a noted playing and coaching career in the bush.

World renowned magician-comedian Phil Cass, a former Wynnum and Souths’ player, volunteered his services on the day and brought the house down. Cass played on the wing for Souths third grade on grand final day 1982, scoring a try in the 22-3 win over a Redcliffe side coached by former NSW prop John Barber.

GRAND FINAL TEAMS Wynnum-Manly: Colin Scott; Terry Butler (deceased), Brett French, Gene Miles, Warren Green; Brian Walsh, Peter Dawes; Rod Morris (c), David Green, Mark Zillman, Brian Battese, Gary Seaton, Shaun Johnson.

(Wayne Bullock came off the bench for Battese, who went on to win two NSWRL grand finals with Canterbury-Bankstown).

Souths: Ken Spencer; Gary Thompson, Mal Meninga, Gary Belcher, Wayne Challis; Bruce Harry, Brad Sully; Gary Grienke, Billy Johnstone (c), Adrian Higgs, Ash Lumby, Brad Tessmann, Allan Power. Johnstone captained Souths in the absence of Bruce Astill who was suspended for kicking Valleys’ Wally Lewis in the major semi-final.

Wynnum-Manly 17 (Butler, French, Dawes tries; Green 4 goals) d Souths 3 (Lumby try).

Crowd: 36,000 Referee: Eddie Ward.

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

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A storming birthday for Alex

By Roy Masters

When Alex Ramsay had brain surgery to cure his epilepsy, the hospital staff were concerned he had taken too long to wake up.

Attempts by his mother Cheryl and brother Braydon also failed to rouse him, with Braydon saying, “Alex, wake up. Billy Slater has gone to Parramatta.”

The invented shock of the Storm fullback signing with the Eels may not have stirred Alex but meeting Billy in Melbourne on the occasion of his 21st birthday was the joy of his medically troubled life.

Like many families afflicted with serious illness, or disadvantage, the Ramsay family use humour as an antidote.

“We’re a stirring family,” Cheryl says of her family, most of whom are Parramatta supporters.

But Alex identified with Billy Slater from the first time he saw him on TV, sprinting away from the opposition as if they were a band of hired killers, turning to face them after scoring a try, a beaming smile on his face.

Of the Ramsay’s family’s 21st gift to Alex – arranging a meeting with Billy at the captain’s run training session on the eve of the Storm’s grand final rematch with the Sharks – Cheryl says, “Shaking Billy’s hand was the main thing he can remember from the weekend.

“It helped his short-term memory, although he can’t remember much about the game and doesn’t know the score.” Given the Storm lost 11-2, perhaps Alex has selective memory.

The Ramsay family live in Nowra, NSW, and their gift to Alex began with a letter from Cheryl to Men of League’s Sydney office, addressed to Ben Ross.

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Lifting his spirits ... Alex Ramsay meets his idol, Storm legend Billy Slater.

It begins: “My son Alex has had some tough breaks recently and I am hoping you may be able to help me make his upcoming 21st birthday one he will never forget.”

Cheryl then detailed his early medical history: born with a hole in the heart; at age five he suffered his first epilepsy seizure and has been medicated ever since.

The following year he was diagnosed with developmental delay. He completed his schooling in support units of three different schools.

But in June 2014, as Cheryl writes, “Our lives changed for the worse. Alex suffered pancreatitis from his epilepsy drug, which meant he could no longer take it.

“He has had surgery following a fall and numerous falls which have led to staples, stitches and glue. “He has left all of our major shops and the bowling alley several

“In the last two and half years he has had as many as seven seizures in one day. There has been a total of 20 seizure-free days in this period.”

times in an ambulance and is known by sight in the emergency department at our local hospital.

“We have tried numerous different drug combinations but have been unsuccessful in controls the seizures.

“He is waiting to have corpus callosotomy surgery sometime this year.

“He suffered a seizure in the surf which was terrifying for him and now refuses to go to the beach.”

Former Wests and Australian front-rower John ‘Dallas’ Donnelly drowned in the surf at Byron Bay in 1986, following an epileptic seizure and rugby league Immortal, Wally Lewis, suffered from epileptic fits until a successful operation in Melbourne.

It follows that Men of League people will always move to help victims of epilepsy.

Cheryl says of Alex’s condition, “Even if the surgery is successful the best outcome we can hope for is a 30 per cent reduction to his seizures.”

So, when Ben Ross forwarded the letter to Victorian president Peter Foreman, who contacted Storm football manager Frank Ponissi, Cheryl’s wish for Alex’s 21st birthday present was soon fulfilled.

Alex was also given a signed Storm jersey and the family was invited into the dressing room after the match, meeting Storm fanatics, such as music legend Molly Meldrum.

Because of Victoria’s short history of rugby league, there are limited playing numbers to care for when players retire.

It is one of the many examples of the Storm and Men of League working together to improve the lives of the distressed members of our sport’s family.

Hosting a visiting league family in need, like the Ramsays, is one opportunity we have to spend the money raised via the generous support of our supporters, particularly the Aces Sporting Club.

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

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Men of League Events Calendar JUNE 8

Sunshine Coast - Kick Off Club

Mooloolaba Surf Club

10-11

Far North QLD - Men of League Double Header

Jones Park, Cairns

16

Illawarra - Kick Off Club

Windang Bowling Club

16

Tuggerah - Kick Off Club

Lake Munmorah Bowling Club

21

QLD - State of Origin Lunch

The Caxton Hotel, Brisbane

29

NRL - Parramatta Eels Men of League Round

ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

30

Bundaberg - Kick Off Club

Salter Oval

5

Southern Sydney - Trivia Night

Sharks Leagues Club

7

QLD Corporate Golf Day

Indooroopilly Golf Club

9

North West (Manilla) - Bowls Day

Manilla Bowling Club

15-16

QLD Intrust Super Cup Men of League Round

Intrust Super Cup Games

15

NRL Gold Coast Titans Men of League Round

CBus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

15

Brisbane - Redcliffe RLFC Game and Event

Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe

15

Townsville - Kick Off Club

Brothers Leagues Club

16

NRL - Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Men of League Round

Lottoland, Brookvale

20

Central Coast - Race Day

Gosford Entertainment Grounds

21

Brisbane - Origin Wash Up Luncheon

Norths Leagues Club

21

Canberra Monaro - Dinner

Queanbeyan Kangaroos Club

21

Illawarra - Bowls Day

Warilla Bowls Club

26

National - Gala Dinner

Hyatt Regency Sydney

Round 21

NRL - Melbourne Storm Men of League Round

AAMI Park

28

Bundaberg - Kick Off Club

Salter Oval

29

North West (Narrabri) - Bowls Day

Narrabri Bowling Club

JULY

Events are subject to change.

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AUGUST Round 22

NRL - St. George Illawarra Dragons Men of League Round

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

4

Sydney Metro - Luncheon

Souths Juniors

9

Brisbane - Kick Off Club

Broncos Leagues Club

10

Sunshine Coast - Kick Off Club

Mooloolaba Surf Club

11

Toowoomba - Golf Day

Gatton

13

Tweed District - Social Day

Kirra Hotel

Round 24

NRL - Sydney Roosters Men of League Round

Allianz Stadium

Round 25

NRL - Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Men of League Round

Southern Cross Stadium, Cronulla

26

Western - Bowls Day

Club Dubbo

Round 26

NRL - Newcastle Knights Men of League Round

McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

1

QLD - Annual Lunch

RNA Showgrounds, Brisbane

2

Southern Monaro - Golf Day

Bombala Golf Club

15

Gold Coast - Golf Day

Emerald Lakes Golf Club

20

Far North Queensland - PM’s XIII Sportsmens Night

Cairns Brothers

22

Bundberg - Kick Off Club

Salter Oval

22

Central Coast - Golf Day

Shelly Beach Golf Club

22

Illawarra - Finals Luncheon

TBC

29

Tuggerah - Kick Off Club

Norah Head Sports Club

12

Sunshine Coast - Kick Off Club

Mooloolaba Surf Club

13

Bundaberg - Sportmens Dinner

Brothers Sports Club

13

Fraser Coast - Golf Day

Hervey Bay Golf Club

15

Riverina - Race Day (Caulfield Cup Fundraiser)

Murrumbidgee Turf Club, Wagga

20

Tuggerah - Golf Day

Wyong Golf Club

20

Western Region - Gala Golf Day

Dubbo Golf Course

29

Tweed District - Bowls Day

Coolangatta Bowls Club

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

Events are subject to change.

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

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Thoroughbred from Murgon Bryan Niebling, the man who once turned his back on Wayne Bennett to stay in bush football, looks back on his career that saw him become an inaugural Bronco under Bennett and a respected Test player.

By Steve Ricketts

Bryan Niebling knocked back a lucrative offer to play under emerging super coach Wayne Bennett in Brisbane, opting instead to fulfill his dream of playing first grade for his home town Murgon.

Today, it seems, there is not the same prestige attached to playing senior football in the bush, something administrators have failed to address, as the flow of young footballers to the city has turned to a flood.

In Niebling’s teenage years, there was a surfeit of quality captain-coaches in country football in Queensland as well as New South Wales.

Murgon contested the South Burnett competition, with Wondai in 1978 when Les Cleal was captaincoach and his younger brother Noel was a try-scoring machine.

Niebling, known to teammates as ‘Horse’, played under-18s that year, representing his state and, along with another emerging talent Brad Tessmann (Kingaroy), was targeted

by Brisbane clubs.

“Brad took up an offer from Souths (Brisbane), but I wanted to play for my town first,” Niebling said.

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“That was my dream growing up.

I wanted to wear the Murgon jersey in A grade. I never thought about playing in Brisbane or Sydney.

Wayne (Bennett) respected that and we had a handshake agreement that I would join Souths in 1980.”

Souths and Valleys fought out the 1979 Brisbane grand final, with South Burnett product Tom Duggan in the front row for Valleys, whose captain-coach was former Test halfback Ross Strudwick.

Valleys belted the Bennett coached Magpies 26-0, with Chris Close, Vic Wieland, Peter McWhirter and John McLeod scoring tries, while Mick Neil kicked six goals.

Just to rub salt into the wounds, Strudwick and Wally Lewis kicked field goals.

“Tommy (Duggan) took me into the Valleys dressing rooms after the match to join in the celebrations,” Niebling recalls. “When I told the Valleys’ boys I was joining Souths, they ribbed me about signing for a losing club.

“In the end I decided to join Tommy at Valleys. It was a tough call, because a handshake agreement counts for a lot. Wayne (Bennett) wasn’t impressed.”

As things transpired, Bennett moved to Brothers in 1980, with former Test forward, Bob McCarthy the new coach at Souths.

Under McCarthy, Souths reached the grand final again in 1980, only to go down 17-15 to underdogs, Norths, while the following year the Magpies won the title, accounting for the Arthur Beetson-led Redcliffe Dolphins 13-9.

Niebling had to wait until 1987 to play in a grand final – for Redcliffe against the Strudwickcoached Brothers.

In the meantime, there were many career highlights. In 1981 he made his Queensland debut, playing alongside captain-coach Beetson in the last top level residents-based interstate match played at Lang Park before Origin took over.

Niebling made his State of Origin debut in 1983, and the following year played all three Tests for Australia against Great Britain.

After an injury-plagued 1985, Niebling enjoyed a stellar 1986, representing his state and country as well as winning The CourierMail’s best and fairest award for a second time, and being declared joint winner of the Rothmans Gold Medal (judged by referees) with Souths forward Scott Tronc.

boys went overboard. By the time the mayor got to the last few players he was pulling his hand back.”

On his return to Australia, Niebling had no idea what the future held, given the then NSWRL competition was looking to expand, with Brisbane, Newcastle and Gold Coast ultimately given the green light for 1988.

In winning the 1986 Courier-Mail award (judged by the newspaper’s league writers), Niebling finished five points clear of his nearest rival, Ipswich halfback Allan Langer.

Current Queensland Men of League chairman Darryl Van de Velde, who had first championed the cause of a Brisbane side in a ‘national’ competition, was coach of Redcliffe, the club Niebling had joined from Valleys in 1984.

At the end of the ‘86 domestic season, Niebling toured England and France with the Kangaroos, who replicated the feat of the ‘82 side by returning undefeated.

In the 1987 grand final, Redcliffe failed to match the class and pace of minor premiers Brothers who scored five tries to one in a 26-8 victory before a crowd of just over 25,000.

“They are some of the happiest memories of my life,” Niebling said.

“I feel sorry for players today, not being afforded the chance to make those traditional tours.

“Running out at Old Trafford in Manchester for the first Test was one of the greatest thrills of my career. The atmosphere was amazing, with 51,000 people yelling and singing.”

Niebling played all three Tests in the second row, with Mal Meninga his partner for the third Test at Wigan, with Meninga unable to dislodge Gene Miles or Brett Kenny from the centres (Michael O’Connor was a centre playing wing too).

While the football was deadly serious, there were light-hearted moments, such as the lead-up to a match against a provincial selection at Le Pontet in the France.

“The mayor was quite elderly, and he was lapping up the pre-match formalities, shaking hands with other dignitaries and players from both sides,” Niebling recalled with a smile. “[Captain] Wally Lewis instructed us to give him a firm handshake but some of the

By then the Brisbane Broncos’ consortium had enticed Wayne Bennett away from the Canberra Raiders. Niebling, Wally Lewis, Gene Miles, Greg Conescu, Colin Scott and Greg Dowling were all confirmed Broncos signings from the Brisbane Rugby League competition.

“Everyone warned us how hard it would be, playing every week against the Sydney clubs,” Niebling said. “We had the toughest preseason of my career, with Brian Canavan as the fitness guru. Now he’s one of the heavies in the NRL. “Well, we started the season on fire, but after six wins on the trot we came back to earth, and didn’t make the finals.”

Niebling spent another season with Brisbane, finishing with 20 matches for the Broncos before joining English club Hull Kingston Rovers where he spent two seasons, helping the club climb from division two back to the top flight.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Niebling, in his Valleys days, being attended to by Brian Canavan. ABOVE: Niebling today.

“It was winter football then, and sometimes the grounds were iced over,” Niebling said. “In second division we had to travel to places like Keighley, Oldham, Dewsbury and Whitehaven, which were notorious for cold, wet weather.

“The thing I enjoyed about playing in England was the freedom to use the ball more. I always fancied myself as a halfback in a forward’s body and it was great to be able to set up play instead of just taking the ball up.”

At Hull KR he played with the likes of former British captain Clive Sullivan, dual Welsh international David Bishop and Kiwi international Dave Watson. He was coached by British league legend Roger Millward and then Scotsman George Fairbairn.

On his return to Australia, Niebling took up coaching with his old club Valleys and these days occasionally can be seen in the can bar at Emerson Park, Grange, watching the Diehards go round.

Married to Cathy, Brian has two adult children, Josh and Sophie, with the family home at Bridgeman Downs in Brisbane’s north.

And as proof of his affection for his home town Murgon, one of his Test jumpers adorns a wall in the local RSL Club.

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

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Billy was the support person for his late dad, ‘Old Bill,’ when he completed the race, aged 70, in 2009. Bill raced solo in 2012. “There has been five generations of Bill Johnstones,” he proudly proclaimed. “I want to get this one in before I cark it.”

The classic starts on September 26 at Purni Bore, the last place for water, on the western edge of the Simpson Desert with contestants racing 80km in the mornings and 50km in the afternoons. They travel through more than 700 sand dunes, salt lakes, vast cattle stations, gibber plains and finish at Birdsville on September 30.

“You must have a challenge to keep yourself motivated,” the Canterbury grand final hooker and Gold Coast Giants inaugural captain says.

Johnstone’s incredible bill of health Billy Johnstone may be 57 but he is one of the toughest and fittest ex-footballers around who still loves a challenge … even if it is nearly 600km riding a pushbike across the Simpson Desert, or sparring with young boxers 40 years his junior.

By Graham Callaghan Everyone knows Billy Johnstone loves a challenge.

When it comes to physically testing his body beyond what most people would never contemplate, the 57-year-old hasn’t changed and is setting himself for a torturous five-day bike race in 40 degrees-plus temperature across the Simpson Desert. Johnstone raced in the 590km Simpson Desert Bike Classic in 2012 finishing 12th in a field of 28 and labels the race as “the hardest challenge I have ever undertaken.”

“There is a lot of mind games when you’re in the middle of the desert and it’s 43 or 44 degrees and there are no trees or anything to see, only sand hills,” he said.

“You find yourself asking can I do this or can’t I? It’s very taxing on your brain.”

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Johnstone has long been regarded as one of the hardest physical trainers rugby league has seen. Stories of his pushing NRL players to their limits are legendary.

Foundation Gold Coast Titans coach John Cartwright attributed his inaugural conditioning boss as “probably the most important signing the club had made” in their initial season.

A decade after drilling foundation players like Anthony Laffranchi and Nathan Friend, Johnstone remembers well the pain he put them through.

“I put on early-morning training sessions at 5am,” Johnstone recalls.

“If they had a night on the grog and came to training and completed the session I’d give them a pat on the back.

If not they’d get a kick up the arse.”

Johnstone has been based in Darwin for five years, working for the Northern Territory Government’s ‘men’s policies department ‘and spends his time helping Aboriginal youth. And he loves it.

“I’m involved mainly in encouraging educational pursuits and practical work-like bicycle repairs, gardening, sports and things like that,” he said. “But encouraging them to get an education through schooling is hard work.

“Young Aboriginal kids like to learn more about hunting and fishing. We are now also involved heavily in the establishment of men’s sheds.

“I had a couple of goes at coaching rugby league with South Darwin and Humpty Doo. South Darwin hadn’t won for ages and we had two wins and two draws in my coaching season.” He laughed when recalling their first win – they got back in the sheds and no-one knew the club’s victory song.

Cowboys for seven seasons from 2003, before heading up the Titans’ campaign from late 2006.

When he wasn’t on the footy field he enjoyed rowing surfboats at Tallebudgera with former teammates Robert ‘Truck’ Simpkins, Neil Hunt and Danny Burgess.

The former professional middleweight boxer is still tied up with boxing, saying his competition days are over but he enjoys getting in the ring with young blokes and teaching them to “keep their hands up and a few basics”.

Billy Johnstone (centre) packs into a scrum with Seagulls teammates Joe Vitanza and Peter Smith in 1988.

Johnstone said he was involved in a lot of sports but if young people in the Territory wanted success they had to travel. “In the winter, plenty of people from North Queensland come to Darwin, so naturally the swing is to the Maroons at Origin time.” Of course, that suits Johnstone, who hails from Cunnamulla. He recalls Chris ‘Choppy’ Close was the hero of the town in 1978 when he scored 52 tries for the local A grade team.

The non-stop Gold Coast hooker and later club conditioner had nine seasons with the Bulldogs, one with St George, captained Gold Coast Giants/Seagulls then moved to fitness coach at North Queensland

He had a career total of 62 fights as an amateur and professional, and says he lost either seven or eight.

One of those was the Australian middleweight title fight at Belmore Sports Ground in 1984, when he was a Bulldogs player, and he was disqualified for an alleged head butt on title holder Ritchie Roberts after being the better fighter for 11 rounds.

“Old Bill [his father] was my coach when I started as an eight-year-old and naturally people said he only matched me with kids I could beat,” Billy laughed.

“I fought all comers and enjoyed boxing and I still look forward to regular spars with the young kids.”

His son, ‘Will’ Johnstone, is hooker for Tweed Heads Seagulls in the Intrust Super (Queensland) Cup.

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North West (NSW) Committee Profile

By Aaron Henry With five sub-committees working under the North West New South Wales banner, you can imagine the committee is an active one. Lots of events. Lots of wellbeing visits.

Lots of fundraising.

And co-ordinating all that activity is North West president Don Pascoe, a genuine member of rugby league’s elite in the area. As a 51-year member of the Gunnedah Rugby League Football Club, life member and patron, there is no-one more qualified to lead the Foundation in the North West.

A legend of country football, Pascoe represented NSW three times in the late 1960s as a speedy winger, from the great traditional North West club Gunnedah which boasts having internationals John Donnelly, John O’Neill, Ron Turner and NSW State of Origin player Lindsay Johnston as having worn the Bulldogs’ colours. Don may have been set to wear the green and gold of Australia in 1970 before injury intervened.

“I’ve made a lot of mates and friends in rugby league over the years,” he says. “It’s great to still be able to help, but with an area as big as the North West that we look after, without the sub-committees, I’d be knocked up with all the travelling.

Attendees at 2016 Gunnedah Bowls Day with Don Pascoe (centre).

After a successful fundraising year in 2016, the committee now have their sights set on beating last year’s final figure and setting themselves a new fundraising record.

“We’ve got a great committee who come together and make it all work,” Pascoe said.

“With the help of committee secretary John Campbell and treasurer Peter Haley, we should be able to make this year bigger than ever before.

unique and are expected to be very well attended.

The Foundation’s Manilla bowls day will be held on the weekend of the centenary celebrations which is expected to see rugby league icons such as John Quayle, who grew up in the town, and fellow internationals John Peard and Neville Glover among the attendees.

NSW state manager Ben Ross says the wellbeing efforts from the committee are fantastic.

“Our sub-committees are based in Tamworth, Manilla, Gunnedah, Narrabri and Moree.

“It’s a hardworking committee with a range of skills to help us get the job done. In most towns, everyone can get past their traditional footy alliances.”

“The North West committee do countless hours in the rugby league community providing assistance from the grassroots of the game up,” he said.

“Each sub-committee runs their own events in their own area. They all well known in their area for their wellbeing work. We’ve had quite a successful run of grant applications recently, so we’re helping lots of people in the North West.“

A huge upcoming event for the committee will be the celebrations around the centenary of the Manilla Tigers. The club is the only rugby league club to be founded by the great Dally Messenger, so the 100-year celebrations will be

“All five of their sub-committees do great work in getting out there with visits and helping those most at need. I’m really excited to hear how they’re growing each sub-committee and the wins they have had in helping people.”

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Magpies’ greatest survivor

By Neil Cadigan

There’s something special about the old Western Suburbs Magpies and their tradition. The pride and loyalty their ‘old boys’ retain is admirable. And none come grander than Stan Mildwater, at 100, the oldest Wests’ player still living.

Stan lived through the Great Depression, served during World War II, played a Test match curtain-raiser at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1937, went bush and played for NSW Country, and then had a satisfying work career as a motor mechanic.

He never reached first grade during his three seasons as a Magpie, the last two while serving in the Army and thus missing several matches, but as a Wests junior who grew up at Canley Vale, and later lived for decades at Ashfield, he has never lost his affinity with the club.

The Magpies, who finished as an NRL club in 1999 before merging with Balmain to form Wests Tigers, still play in the Ron Massey Cup, Sydney Shield, SG Ball and Harold Matthews Cup competitions. And they look after former players as well as any club in rugby league.

That’s why Wests Ashfield chairman Mike Bailey, the Pratten Park Magpies Past Players Association’s Carl Ross and former star player Mick Liubinskas, also the Magpies’ chairman, hosted Stan’s family and friends at a special 100th birthday bash at Breakfast Point Country Club.

Stan, nicknamed ‘Ike’ by his older brother at a young age – a moniker that followed him into the Wests ranks – went to the same school as legendary five-eighth Vic Hey and his President’s Cup (under-21s) coach was former Test skipper and the Eels first coach, Frank ‘Skinny’ McMillan in ‘37.

Stan was elevated to the ‘grade’ ranks in third grade in 1938, winning a premiership in the final against Eastern Suburbs, playing as a centre. He remained a Magpies for the next two seasons, playing eight games in 1939 (six in reserves, two in thirds) and eight in 1940 (seven in reserves and one in thirds).

Happy 100th ... (from left) Mike Bailey, Carl Ross and Mick Liubinskas celebrate with Stan Mildwater.

By that time war had intervened and he’d enlisted, and while stationed at Bathurst he won a premiership with Bathurst Waratahs and played Country Seconds, impressing enough to just miss NSW selection.

“I spent 12 months in Bouganville with the 12th Advanced Workshops but I saw very little action,” Stan recalls of his Army days. “I worked as a mechanic on the jeeps and trucks.”

When he returned after the war he headed west to Wellington, where he stayed for a decade and was a footballing hero in town, captaining the team to the Johnny Walker Cup in 1949 as the best side in the region, and he also coached their top side.

“I really enjoyed my time at Wellington but I got a good opportunity to manage a garage at Hurlstone Park back in Sydney,” he remembers. “We spent about 20 years there, bought a unit across road from Ashfield Park, had two girls and a boy, and it was a wonderful place to live.”

Stan, who reached the century mark on March 11, lives in a nursing home at Oatlands near Parramatta. He is now wheelchair bound after losing a leg but still gets out as well as watching NRL games regularly on television.

“I don’t agree with some of the gang tackling and the way they are trained to wrestle, and they’re getting too big and too bombastic,” he says of the current game.

“Just barging up is not football in my books and I’d like to see tackling with one and two on one.”

Yet he admires Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith, his favourite players of today, although he’d like to see ‘JT’ retire before injuries creep up on him, which he fears is happening.

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Lending a helping hand Barrie Binnie

Keith Huntley

He was born and bred in Charleville where he played all his junior and schoolboy football. After playing A-grade in the area for years, Barry decided it was time to travel around Australia. During this time, he played for a couple of clubs before having a season in the Perth competition.

Keith has been in the aged care facility for about four years and is a double amputee. Unfortunately, Keith has not been able to use a second prosthesis which has limited his access outside of the facility, meaning he needs to use a wheelchair for his mobility.

Barry Binnie is 69 years young and still does his sessions in the gym and enjoys a walk in the afternoons even though he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and early dementia in 2015.

Meeting up with the late Roger Marles brought him to Bundaberg where he played for the Wanderers club for a couple of seasons before signing on for Natives where he went on to win the Bundaberg premiership in 1977. He played until he was 35.

Barry is extremely grateful that the Men of League Foundation could assist him with his medical and living expenses.

Central Coast Men of League Foundation committee members Les Pearce, Lance Henry and Dennis Tomsett visited Keith Huntley at Chamberlain Gardens Age Care Facility and at his daughter’s residence in Wyoming.

The Foundation has been able to assist Keith in accessing his daughter’s residence through the help of Craig Campbell, lengthening an existing ramp. This has made his access easier to manage, allowing him to visit his daughter more often.

Keith played rugby league with Kensington and Clovelly in the 1950s before joining the Woy Woy Roosters where he became a committee member and team manager. Keith and his wife Pat (deceased), were actively involved the men’s and women’s committees from 1972 until the mid-80s.

Keith greatly appreciated the assistance of the Men of League and was overwhelmed when presented with a Men of League polo shirt. Keith would love to see any old friends or teammates who have the time to visit him the facility in Chamberlain Road, Wyoming.

Barry Binnie (left) catching up with Bundaberg wellbeing officer Mark Hanson.

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Keith with daughters Cathy and Sharon, grand-daughters Emma, Rebecca and Abby, grandson-in-law Chris and Men of League Central Coast representatives Les Pearce and Craig Campbell.

Barry Cross

When Northern Sydney wellbeing officers Norm Pounder and Ken Vessey visited Men of League member Barry Cross, 84, they were privileged to meet a man who has devoted his life to ensuring rugby league was played with fairness, within the rules, with the true spirit of the game and in a practical manner.

Barry, who was undergoing treatment for lymphoma, began his involvement with rugby league when playing with the Wamoon’s first and reserve grade teams in the Riverina before becoming linked with the Newport juniors as a player, official and coach in the late 1950s.

He turned to refereeing in 1957 and embarked on a career dedicated to that Manly Warringah Referees Association during which he controlled games at all levels in junior and schoolboys rugby league, held senior executive positions including being a long-standing patron of the association, and was awarded life membership in 1968 plus life membership with honours in 1978.

Barry was graded by the NSW Rugby League Referees Association and refereed seven first grade games in 1973 and countless in reserves and thirds, as well as acting as a touch judge in first grade, City v Country, interstate and Test matches. He retired in 1981 after a long and highly distinguished career.

Barry has lived alone since the passing of his loving wife Kathleen several years ago and has a daughter, two sons and seven grandsons. His sons Greg and Peter played first grade, Greg with Manly in the late 70s (including four first grade games) and Peter with North Sydney (88 first grade games) from 1979-1986.

Norm and Ken enjoyed the chat with Barry speaking about the past and present state of the game and the great referees he had run the touchline for including Keith Page, Greg Hartley, Denis Braybrook, Laurie Bruyeres, Gary Cook, Jack Danzey and Don Macdonald.

Barry Cross and Norm Pounder.

Mary Durose

The Victoria committee continues to offer support for Mary Durose, who is well known and loved within the rugby league community. Mary and Peter Durose had a long history with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs where they ran the accommodation facility for the club.

Mary was recently advised that she needed a small operation on her mouth to remove a growth, requiring her to stay overnight in hospital following the procedure. Committee members were there to offer support and will continue to stay close.

Terry Judd

Terry Judd, a former player with the old Chelsea club in the South Sydney juniors, was driving from his home on the Gold Coast to Erskineville in Sydney for a reunion when he felt unwell. He had made it as far as Kempsey, but decided to drive another 100km, before deciding to return home.

He was sent to hospital and, following tests, was sent to the Princess Alexandra Hospital spinal unit in Brisbane. The former bricklayer, who turned 80 in March, has remained there since October and has lost all use of his legs.

Men of League Brisbane committee secretary Vance Rennie has been a regular visitor and reports that there has been some improvement in Terry’s situation, following intense physiotherapy.

The Chelsea club produced many first-grade footballers and representative players. One of the most prominent is Gary Stevens, who played 11 Tests in the second row for Australia between 1972 and ‘75 and played in South Sydney’s 1970 and ’71 premiership winning teams.

Terry Judd with Brisbane Men of League committee secretary Vance Rennie.

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Whistle blew too early on Richie

By Tony Durkin

Queensland Intrust Super Cup teams the Sunshine Coast Falcons and PNG Hunters observe a minute’s silence in remembrance of Richie Johnston.

Photo courtesy of Ritchie Duce - Level Eleven Photography.

Richie Johnston was only small in stature, but he was big on effort when it came to rugby league and, in particular, refereeing. And, he was a born entertainer.

So it was fitting that when Richie was farewelled on the Sunshine Coast recently that a huge crowd – estimated at more than 800 – was on hand to say goodbye. Fitting also, was that some of the game’s most respected referees were among the mourners.

Richard Johnston, OAM, was in his 78th year when he passed away suddenly while mowing the lawn on 4 April. He had previously enjoyed very good health.

A former State League referee, Johnston made a seamless transition into the coaching and education field and was instrumental in the development of Queensland’s leading referees for more than 25 years.

His mantra was “I may not necessarily make you a better referee, but I will make you a better person”.

Johnston’s love of the game and his passion for assisting others took him all over Queensland in his role as the inaugural QRL Referees’ development manager.

This newly-created position - in 1992 - raised some eyebrows but the doubters were soon silenced as Richie managed everything involved with the referees, from State League coaching to QRL carnivals and development.

A decade later he took on a new role with the QRL’s South East Queensland and Wide Bay divisions. And even though he officially retired from the QRL in 2009, Johnston was never lost to the game. Until the day of 28

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Richie Johnston.

his sudden passing he spent time mentoring young match officials from the Sunshine Coast-Gympie Referees Association and regularly travelled to Papua New Guinea to assist with the coaching and education of the referees in that developing rugby league nation. And a number of those youngsters attended his funeral service, including current NRL referees Peter Gough and Chris Butler, regular Holden Cup referee and NRL touch judge Belinda Sleeman and Intrust Super Cup referees Tyson Brough and Jackson Shearer.

Also among the mourners were a host of former topline referees including Tim Mander, Ian Smith, Mick Stone, Eddie Ward, Steve Clark, Tony Archer and Tony Maksoud.

Sunshine Coast rugby league clubs and many in the wider Central Queensland area observed a

minute’s silence on the weekend following his death as a mark of respect to Richie, while all Intrust Super Cup teams in Queensland wore black armbands such was his stature in the game.

One such competition was the Bundaberg district, which takes in Hervey Bay and Maryborough where Richie taught and refereed for almost two decades.

All teams in the competition observed a minute’s silence in tribute to the man who influenced “hundreds of referees throughout Queensland” according to local whistle blower Alan Ezzy.

“When I joined the referee’s association, he was one of those people everyone talked about as a guy who could guide you and give you the right advice.

“He did that with me,” Ezzy said. “But Richie wasn’t just a good referee’s coach, he was a really good person. He cared about people.”

Bob over the moon

Ezzy said the other great quality of Richie Johnston was that he would always confront someone to their face. “If you didn’t hear from him you knew you were doing all right. He was upfront, honest, and an all-round great human being,” he said.

Johnston was honoured with an Order of Australia Medal in 2014 for service to the sport as a referee and administrator. He was the winner of an NRL Community Award and in 2009 was conferred life membership of the Australian Rugby League Referees’ Association.

He also has an oval named after him in Hughenden, where he once taught and met his wife Lesley.

The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary just two weeks before Johnston’s untimely death.

Richie is survived by his wife Lesley, daughters Amanda Johnston-Pell and husband Matt, Sally Lawrence and husband Peter, and three grandsons, Harrison, Tom and George.

Bob Moon, a member of South Sydney’s 1953 premiership-winning side, was thrilled to get a visit from the Foundation’s wellbeing officers Warren Thompson and Ken Vessey plus Rabbitohs historian Brad Ryder at the Macquarie Lodge aged care facility in Sydney.

Moon, a Rabbitoh from 1952-57, proudly put on his premiership blazer and spoke about growing up at Waterloo, playing juniors for Alexandria Rovers and being called into Souths’ grade ranks at age 18.

He played 81 games with Souths, 19 in first grade, including the ‘53 final against St George (a 31-12 victory) as a 19-year-old in front of 44,581 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Before retiring because of a badly dislocated arm, Moon had managed to be sent from the field twice and naturally claimed he was innocent of the alleged offences. He still keenly supports the Rabbitohs and says the toughest player he has seen was Kevin Ryan, the dual Australian international forward.

Bob and his brother Jack owned and operated a highly successful seafood supplier company named Moon Bros. for many years and after retiring from the business worked at Sydney airport prior to become a waterside wharf labourer. He met his wife Lillian (now residing in a nearby nursing home) at a South Sydney Club picnic and they lived in Maroubra while raising their family.

Fred Jackson, Brad Ryder, Bob Moon, Ken Vessey and Warren Thompson.

Bob was presented with extracts of rugby league programs which contained references to his playing days and a Men of League polo shirt.

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Rockhampton Committee Profile

By Aaron Henry With rugby league having been played in Central Queensland for more than a century and the large regional Queensland town of Rockhampton being mentioned as a potential NRL expansion club, it should come as no surprise that the league community is strong in ‘Rocky’.

It should also come as no surprise that an energised and vibrant Men of League committee is a prominent part of the region’s footy fraternity. Based around an active president and secretary, the committee is ensuring the rugby league community is cared for.

Men of League Foundation chief executive officer Frank Barrett knows the committee well and has speaks highly of their strong connections into the rugby league community.

“After a period of some inactivity, the Rockhampton committee have become really active in the past 18 months,” he said. “The great work being done by our committee is hugely driven by the local secretary Dominique McGregor and president Shane Nipperess.

“With her work in the Central Queensland NRL bid and as CEO of the Central Queensland Capras, Dominique certainly didn’t need any more work on her plate.

But she loved what we do so much that she was happy to lend her assistance to help the Foundation in the area.”

The Rockhampton committee also teed off a new initiative last October with their Rockhampton golf day at Yeppoon. Nipperess said it was a very successful day and they hope to turn it into an inaugural event.

“The day was fully booked and we couldn’t get any more players on the course, so we were very well supported,” Shane said.

“We got a lot of media about the day, so we’d like to turn it into our major event for the year in Rockhampton.”

Nipperess joined the Foundation after being involved in rugby league all his life and growing up in a league family.

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Stuart Raper and Mark Bunting on a wellbeing visit to Rockhampton, pictured with John and Rose Burrows.

“After I finished playing and did some coaching, I decided to join and help the Men of League Foundation because I knew of the work they did in the rugby league community,” he added.

“We’ve got eight or nine people on our committee.

We’d really like to see more people become members and come along to help.

“Membership will be the focus for us in the future, and working our contacts to get more of the rugby league community involved in the Men of League. Our goal is to have more rugby league celebrities and icons from the game come along to our events for people to meet.”

Frank Barrett reflects on the great potential of the Foundation in the Central Queensland region.

“Rockhampton is rugby league heartland. With such a rich history in rugby league and so many current and former players from the region. we’d really like to see more people from the rugby league community become a member and help the Foundation.

“As the charity of rugby league, we need to be there to help the community and make sure that the Foundation has a strong presence in the area.

“With everyone in the Central Queensland area working together, including our local Rockhampton and Emerald committees with our partnerships such as the Intrust Super Cup, we’ll all make sure that the rugby league community is being serviced.”

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Around the grounds ... a pictorial look at events in recent months

Jess Schwartz (Men of League events and community engagement), Viktor the Viking (Canberra Raiders mascot), and volunteer Jessica Wheat signing up members at Canberra Raiders’ Men of League round.

Norm Pounder, Alistair Turnball and Ken Vessey with South Sydney Rabbitohs performers at the South Sydney Rabbitohs Men of League round.

Southern Sydney committee Denis Stapleton and Brian Cox with the Flames cheersquad raising funds at the Dragons v Warriors clash at UOW Jubilee Oval, through the 50-50 draw.

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Southern Sydney committee’s Brian Cox, Denis Stapleton, Bruce Thompson and John Harris raising funds at UOW Jubilee Oval.

Western Sydney committee member Colin Grinyer, president Steve Winbank and Luke Sammut raising funds through the 50-50 draw at ANZ Stadium before the Wests Tigers v St George Illawarra Dragons clash.

Canberra Monaro president Noel Bissett, Men of League Foundation national board member Alan Tongue, Mark Lynch and Graham Willard.

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Lena an inspiration to others Injury stopped what was looking like a promising career representing Queensland for Graham Lena. He looks back on his career fondly though, and life positively, despite a family tragedy in later years and some challenging health issues now. By Steve Ricketts

Graham Lena fires a pass playing for Brothers.

Graham Lena was set for a lengthy career in the maroon of Queensland after his impressive interstate debut at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1971.

The Courier-Mail’s Jack Reardon wrote that Lena more than held his own against New South Wales’ aggressive five-eighth Tom Raudonikis in a match won 17-15 by the Blues.

When Graham was six, Allan took the family (Graham was one of six children) to Ayr in the Burdekin region of North Queensland because there was a good job going in a sugar mill. Allan continued his league career with the Lifesavers club while Graham came through the grades at Colts, representing Burdekin in the Foley Shield.

But injury intervened and Lena’s only other appearance in maroon came a week after that SCG clash when Queensland played NSW Country in Newcastle on their way home. By 1974, aged just 26, Lena’s career was effectively over and he briefly turned his hand to coaching before bowing out of the game.

News of his impressive form spread as far as Sydney, with Newtown secretary Frank Farrington, who had spent a season in Mackay as a player, making an approach to the 20-year-old.

Lena was always destined to play rugby league, given his father Allan was a star in the strong Tweed league in the 1940s and 50s, and his grandfather Percy had played in the district before that.

Born at Murwillumbah, Graham Lena lived his early years at South Tweed Heads. Among his neighbours were the Morgan family, the most famous of whom, Lionel, was the first indigenous man to play rugby league for Australia – against the 1960 French tourists.

Graham’s father was of South Sea Island blood and his mother was Aboriginal. Allan worked in the bananas at Glengarrie, high in the hills above the Tweed Valley, right on the Queensland-NSW border.

Allan, who played club football for Tweed All Blacks, represented the Tweed in the prestigious inter-district Anthony Shield competition and was a hero to the indigenous and islander community.

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Lena did not go to Sydney but in 1968 left the north, signing with Toowoomba club, All Whites, where his game was fine-tuned by the likes of Whites’ coach Stan Hick; former Test lock, Ian ‘Ripper’ Doyle (a Toowoomba selector) and Test centre and Toowoomba representative teammate John McDonald.

That year Lena represented Toowoomba against Great Britain. “I played in the centres and marked Alan Burwood, who later went on to play with Canterbury in Sydney.,” he recalled.

“It was one of the toughest games I have ever played [Britain won 28-10]. The Poms would knock your block off as quick as look at you,” Lena recalled. But we all got along after the match. They loved to drink and sing.

“Their coloured winger, Clive Sullivan, encouraged me to give English football a go. ‘We’ll look after you’, he said. But nothing came of it.”

Three days later Lena but was five-eighth when the Maroons played the Arthur Summons-coached Combined NSW Country in Newcastle. Queensland won 19-18, thanks to a last-minute try by centre Adams with Bax rating Lena one of his best players.

“The Newcastle fans gave it to us,” he recalled. “I remember them telling us to stick a pineapple up our arse.”

The world was at Lena’s feet with Sydney clubs looking his way. “But the transfer fee imposed on me by the QRL was too big. As it turned out, I did my cruciate ligament in 1972 and then cartilage damage in ‘73. There wasn’t sports medicine then, like there is now, and they couldn’t do much for me. I kept playing, but I couldn’t perform the way I wanted.”

Graham today, at his home in Brisbane.

The same year the ‘Downsmen won the coveted Bulimba Cup, beating Brisbane in the final at Lang Park, but next season Lena returned to North Queensland to play at Ingham and represented North Queensland in the state trials in Brisbane.

Former state five-eighth Eric Gelling was coach of Brothers in Brisbane and lured Lena to the Queensland capital. Brothers already boasted skillful halves Johnny Smith and Barry Dowling but Dowling and Lena were capable of playing in the centres.

Brothers made the preliminary finals in A-grade, reserves and C-grade in 1970 but all three sides lost, with the A-grade going down to eventual premiers Valleys. Dowling was The Courier-Mail’s best and fairest award winner.

The following season was Lena’s finest. Brothers didn’t make the finals but he won The Courier-Mail’s best and fairest award and played for Brisbane in their Bulimba Cup final win over Toowoomba, and also toured NSW with the Bob Bax-coached Queensland side.

NSW’s 17-15 win at the SCG completed a clean sweep of the series, with the Blues having won the first two games in Brisbane.

“Lena had a sound game against Raudonikis, and this was probably the most even battle of the match, with Lena losing nothing in comparison,” wrote The Courier-Mail’s Jack Reardon. Raudonikis made his Test debut the following year. “The quick service of halfback Lee Hutchinson and deft handling by Lena gave centres, Brian Adams and Max Anderson, plenty of attacking opportunities.”

Forced to retire in 1974, Lena gained his grade three coaching certificate and coached Brothers’ juniors, but it was difficult putting in the necessary time, given his work and other commitments. He met his wife, Sandra Gwynne, at a dance at Brothers Leagues Club. Originally from Warwick, she grew up with future Brothers and Broncos coach Wayne Bennett but did not follow rugby league. That changed when she met Graham. They had three children – Sondra, Andree and Josh.

Sondra was tragically killed near Rockhampton in 1992 when she was struck by a passing vehicle at a road block, set up following a prison escape. She was only 20, and was the first Queensland policewoman killed in the line of duty. Sondra joined the force because she wanted to make a difference, and no doubt she would be proud of her parents and siblings, because they have kept her memory alive and remained a tight-knit family unit, despite the devastation they felt following her death. Sandra Lena said the Queensland Police Service had never left the family’s side, and had supported them ever since Sondra’s death.

Even though Graham is now fighting a battle with pancreatic cancer, he remains upbeat and hopes to continue his work as a community service officer with Brisbane based Roma House, run by Mission Australia.

A brewery truck driver with Carlton and United during his football days and immediately afterwards, Graham later gained the necessary qualifications for him to work with Queensland Health dealing with mental health and alcohol related problems. He also has worked as a volunteer counsellor with Lifeline.

Men of League wellbeing officers have visited Graham in hospital and at home in Brisbane’s west and have been knocked over by his positive attitude to life.

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Our latest staff changes You get to speak with them a lot. Now it’s time to meet and get to know Sam and Jess a little bit better.

Having joined our Queensland office in April, you may know Samantha James as our Queensland events manager.

For our Queensland committees, this means she is there to assist with your golf days, Kick-Off Clubs, bowls days and any other event you organise within your local rugby league community.

To go with her Bachelor of International Hotel and Tourism degree from University of Queensland, Sam has a resume full of event experience.

QLD Events Manager Samantha James.

Quietly, Sam will tell you that it’s not the only field she runs onto.

Sam plays for team ‘Wasted Potential’ in one of Brisbane’s social touch football competitions.

When questioned about her football career, Sam laughed and admits that they play in the G-grade comp.

She mainly plays footy for the fun, friendship and competition.

Sam has had many different exciting event-focused roles including working on the ‘Ekka’.

“Getting to know the committees, helping them with their events and seeing their enthusiasm and friendship has been the best part of the job so far,” Sam said.

Sam first heard of the Men of League Foundation through friends working at the QRL. The appeal to work for a charity and having a hand in helping those within our community most at need proved

“It’s a great team here in Queensland with Mark, Belinda and Darryl. Everyone has been very supportive and helped immerse me in rugby league and the rugby league community.

Her time with CRL saw Jess organising and helping with events, representative teams, grassroots rugby league, as well as community engagement and wellbeing.

There have been several other changes in head office in Sydney in recent months. Queensland state manager Frank Barrett has moved to Sydney to fill the chief executive officer’s role after the departure of Peter Collins. Queensland chairman and national board member Darryl Van de Velde is temporarily filling the Queensland job while still serving on the national board.

Sadly, after just a short time with us, Jess has decided to take up a rare opportunity to achieve a lifelong personal goal by moving overseas. Jess will be leaving us at the end of June.

In New South Wales, Jessica Schwartz joined us after 12 years at Country Rugby League.

Jess’ network, knowledge and empathy for the rugby league community has been easy to see in her time with the Foundation as the NSW event and community engagement manager.

With more than a decade in the rugby league community it’s easy to see how she played many different positions on the CRL team.

“I’m sad to be leaving after just joining the team. It’s something that everyone involved with the Men of League can genuinely be proud of.”

Jessica Schwartz with Eel’s legend Eric Grothe.

appealing and Sam soon crossed the white line and ran onto the field on team Men of League.

NSW state manager Stuart Raper has returned to league’s front line as NSWRL referees coach and wellbeing and education officer Ben Ross has been elevated to fill a reworked state manager position that includes wellbeing.

And operations manager Sandra Hopwood has decided to move on after several years in our Sydney office. We wish Stu and Sandra well in their new chapters.

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QRL history committee The Queensland Rugby League history committee met in April to discuss the many activities taking place.

The Ross Livermore lecture was held on 27 May at QRL headquarters, presented by history group member Steve Haddan, whose wonderful book ‘Our Game: The celebration of Brisbane Rugby League 1909-1987’ was the basis of this year’s lecture. Haddan’s book has sold well and is into a second edition.

Another notable initiative by the QRL history group is a school writing competition that will take place to coincide with this year’s State of Origin series. Open to secondary schools, the competition has categories for years 7, 8 and 9 and 10-12 with the topic being ‘What the Maroons mean to Me’. Prizes include membership to the Junior Maroons and a unique experience to visit the Maroons’ camp and meet the squad during this year’s series.

The competition will be judged by an expert panel from Education Queensland plus a visiting English professor from the US and history committee chair Kevin Brasch who is a former teacher/headmaster. Competition winners will be announced prior to the second game of this year’s series. For further details contact the QRL. In other news, the QRL history committee is playing a role in the 100-year celebrations of rugby league in the Cassowary Coast region of North Queensland.

Centered on the town of Innisfail, where the first steps to establish the code took place in 1917, the celebrations also include the towns of Babinda, Tully and Cardwell. Rugby league is in the DNA of these communities and a season long list of events are planned, including reunions and a compilation of the region’s 100 years of rugby league history.

As with all historical ventures, the social and cultural history of the game is just as important as the statistics and it is mind boggling to think how they managed to play the game in those early years with transport infrastructure vastly different to today’s plus the fact that so many young men were away fighting World War I in 1917.

The celebrations are strongly supported by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council whose mayor John Kremastos is a well-known league identity.

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1956 team sheet from Innisfail v Tully which shows Innisfail’s Ron Tait and Tully’s ‘Blondie’ Greenwood and Danny Clifford, all Queensland representatives.

Tully’s halfback Dick Boustead is the father of Kerry Boustead.

Ben Heath, a former Cowboys Young Guns player, and former Innisfail and Brisbane players Doug Slater and Nick Nicolau with Nick’s wife Julie the committee secretary. A Facebook page has been set up to coincide with these celebrations. QRL history group member Greg Shannon is also a resident of the region and was invited onto the committee as a QRL history representative.

Much work is being done to track down former players from the various local clubs. The region has produced many notable rugby league identities including former Queensland 1930s player Graeme ‘Scotty’ Macrae who later coached Queensland in the 1950s as well as internationals Trevor McDonald (1959), Angelo Crema (1966), Lionel Williamson (1968), Kerry Boustead (1978) and Billy Slater (2008). Other internationals from the region include Jim Paterson, Barry McTaggart and Dave Parkinson.

Williamson, Boustead and Slater are ambassadors for the centenary celebrations.

For further details on events that will take place contact Julie Nicolau on nicolau@qldnet.com.au or Greg Shannon through the QRL.

Wellbeing is our key objective

By Ben Ross, NSW state manager

Over the past three years we have seen the change in wording of welfare programs into wellbeing.

The NRL have now begun to develop their wellbeing programs and Men of League Foundation, being a major beneficiary, have followed the same direction.

The word welfare’s most familiar meaning to the general public is that it refers to a collection of government programs such as food vouchers and Medicare, usually intended to help those experiencing financial hardship.

Wellbeing is a subjective state that is associated with welfare, but does not relate directly.

It involves an individual’s or groups’ physical, financial, and emotional state that extends beyond the traditional definition of health.

A high level of wellbeing means in some sense the individual or group’s condition is positive, while low wellbeing is associated with negative happenings.

So how is a positive state of wellbeing achieved?

Every aspect of your life influences your state of wellbeing.

Some people believe that wealth is a fast track to happiness.

Yet various international studies have shown that it is the quality of our personal relationships, not the size of our bank balances, which has the greatest effect on our state of wellbeing.

What we love doing ... Ben Ross gives some joy to Peter and Mary Dorose during a visit to Ballarat.

Research has found the following factors enhance a person’s wellbeing: • Happy intimate relationship with a partner • Network of close friends • Enjoyable and fulfilling career • Enough money • Regular exercise • Nutritional diet • Sufficient sleep • Spiritual or religious beliefs • Fun hobbies and leisure pursuits • Healthy self-esteem • Optimistic outlook • Realistic and achievable goals • Sense of purpose and meaning • A sense of belonging • The ability to adapt to change • Living in a fair and democratic society The Men of League Foundation aims to achieve wellbeing of our members through: • Developing and maintaining strong relationships with family and friends • Making regular time available for social contact • A volunteer program that is enjoyable and rewarding • Developing nutritious food guides • Developing regular physical activity programs • Local committees events: • Golf days • Bowls • Luncheons • Kick-Off Clubs • Back To The Game • Monthly Walk and Coffee Crew • Social Visits

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Back to the game

By Ken Vessey

The Northern Sydney wellbeing team have organised several Back to the Game outings to NRL games, at Brookvale Oval and North Sydney Oval, and the latest one was the round nine clash between South Sydney and Manly Sea Eagles at the Allianz Stadium.

The idea of the outing is to invite past players, or people who have lost friends and need to reconnect with the game, committee members or members who have fallen on hard times, to enjoy a day at the footy Joining us on this night were former Manly Warringah players Bill Bradstreet and Norm Pounder, Northern Sydney Men of League committee members (who played many third and reserve grade games in their careers) Vic Baker and Greg Grace, Jim Phelan (former Brisbane competition first grader and now secretary of the Northern Sydney committee), Alistair Turnbull who is a keen worker for Men of League in Northern Sydney, Northern Sydney committee member Don Bailey and Sydney Metro committeeman Wayne Peterson.

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Norm Pounder, Don Bailey, Wayne Peterson, Alistair Turnbull, Ron Coote, Jim Phelan and Ken Vessey.

Before the match the group assisted around the entrance concourse in acquiring new members, telling the public about the history and activities of the Foundation.

Men of League CEO Frank Barrett (front) with Port Stephens committee members (from left) Peter Arnold, Greg Hennessy, Chris Kelly and Gerry Mohan.

Our latest port of call

By Charlie Elias

The newly formed Men of League Port Stephens committee hit the ground running in late April with a series of kick-off days that were well supported by the local community.

The first was held at Raymond Terrace’s Lakeside Tavern where host Jeremy Cusack, a former Woy Woy, Parramatta and Bradford (England) player, was able to assemble a number of former league luminaries.

Guests included former Kangaroos Johnny King, Eddie Lumsden and Brett Mullins, plus Newcastle stalwarts Neville Boyes (who played over 230 games for Kurri Kurri Bulldogs) and Craig Higgins, who captain-coached Waratah-Mayfield’s last grand final winning team.

A similar event was held a fortnight later at the Fingal Bay Sports Club, where nearly 70 people gathered in a terrific show of strength for the Men of League Foundation. Special guest was newly appointed CEO Frank Barrett, who combined the trip to Port Stephens with a wellbeing visit to a former NRL player and coach.

Barrett, who was given a tour of the Harbourside Haven aged care facility’s Men of League rooms, was extremely impressed with the work in Port Stephens, saying the committee had ticked all the boxes in their quest to form a stand-alone branch.

Former Parramatta, NSW and Australian player Neville Glover made the trip from the Central Coast, regaling the crowd with an amusing account of his playing days. Also present was another former Eel (and Magpie) Pat Hundy plus coaching mastermind Alan Bell, the inaugural Newcastle Knights assistant coach.

Twelve members signed up and although still in its infancy, the committee has been working hard to support the rugby league community in Port Stephens, including providing assistance to the family of a junior player who tragically died from a sudden illness earlier this year.

The local committee aims to continue to support the league fraternity through its wellbeing program and hosting a series of community events and fundraisers.

Some of the upcoming activities include a breakfast at Lakeside Tavern on 4 June with special guest being former Canterbury, Wests, Manly, NSW and Australian forward David ‘Cement’ Gillespie. This will be followed by the Port’s signature event, the annual golf day and sportsman’s dinner taking place at Nelson Bay Golf Club on 5 and 6 August. Other events include a bowls day at Nelson Bay Bowling Club on 24 September and trivia night at the golf club on 28 October.

Port Stephens branch contacts are president Chris Kelly on 0418 652857 and secretary Peter Arnold on 0404 872018.

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

For more tributes or expanded versions www.menofleague.com Mick Adams Great Britain international Mick Adams passed away in Tamworth, aged 65. The celebration for Mick’s life was held in the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre on Tuesday 21 March. He is survived by wife Christine, and children, Jenni, Matthew and Amy, plus other extended family.

See page 44 for Steve Rickett’s tribute.

Michel Bardes Prop forward Bardes toured Australia and New Zealand with the French side in 1964 but did not play a Test. A fireman from Perpignan, Bardes had to wait until 1968 for his first, and only Test cap, against Britain at Bradford, when De Nadai was a teammate. He died in March following a heart attack.

Kerry Cooper Kerry lost his battle with cancer on the 2 April. He was 64. He loved rugby league, fishing and the bush.

He played his junior rugby league for Wondai and achieved representative honours for the South Burnett region.

After finishing school and working locally for a while he moved to Ingham and played in the local competition, representing Herbert River in their Foley Shield victory in 1980.

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Western Suburbs as a strong running and defensive fullback, playing in two grand finals and representing Bundaberg in the 47th Battalion Trophy competition.

De Nadai, who underwent a successful heart transplant, played 30 Tests. He died in April following a long period of ill health.

Peter Kuchler

Keith Glen

Peter Kuchler, a member of the Townsville committee’s executive, passed away peacefully in the Townsville Hospital recently.

Former Dragons and Bulldogs prop Keith Glen passed away on 25 February at Sanctuary Point, aged 77. The tough forward was a Ramsgate junior and moved into the St George minor grade teams in 1960, making his first-grade debut in 1961.

Peter had been diagnosed with a brain tumour after falling ill early in the year and was unable to attend many functions.

Peter’s contribution to rugby league over many years included at Souths as a player, with Centrals as trainer/ strapper and with Townsville, North Queensland and the Junior Kangaroos as trainer/strapper.

Paul Francis De Nadai As a second-rower, De Nadai made two tours to Australia with the French rugby league side – in 1968 and 1975 – the highlight being the 1968 World Cup final at the SCG, played in front of a crowd of 56,000.

Australia won 20-2 but De Nadai tasted his share of success against the men in green and gold – two wins and a draw at home against the 1967-68 Kangaroos and a win at Bradford during the 1970 World Cup in Britain.

De Nadai played for Limoux club in France, and his son-in-law Gilles Fleuret was a prominent player with Villefranche-de-Rouergue.

In four seasons with the Dragons he had to compete for a front row position with such great players as Billy Wilson, Kevin Ryan, Monty Porter and Robin Gourley, while teammates included men such as John Raper, Brian Clay, Norm Provan, Reg Gasnier, Graeme Langlands and Billy Smith.

In the era of St George’s 11 successive premierships from 1956, Keith played five top grade games and won a reserve grade premiership in 1962. In 1964 he joined Canterbury and in three seasons played 29 first grade games and 16 with the reserve grade side.

Keith and his family moved to Helensburgh where he played three seasons with Northern Suburbs and a season with Helensburgh where he continued to live in Helensburgh for the next 30 years or more, where he was highly regarded by the locals as a hard-working community man.

those now gone John Graham Well known Illawarra rugby league identity John Graham passed away in Wollongong on Sunday 23 April aged 77. Jack, as he was known, had a long career with the Wollongong club and then joined Collegians. He could handle any position in the forwards but was best known as a tough prop.

As a first grader with the Wollongong club in 1961 and 1962, he was a teammate and close friend of Immortal and Team of the Century member Graeme Langlands. Towards the end of his playing days, Jack moved on to Berkeley in the Illawarra second division and after retiring coached Port Kembla reserve grade team.

A strong supporter of Men of League, Jack was an inaugural member of the Illawarra Steelers committee. He was also a passionate Steelers supporter and a long-term member of the North Wollongong SLSC, where he established himself as a highquality surfboat sweep.

He was also mine host of Wollongong’s Harp Hotel for 17 years.

Colin Hutton Hutton was a prominent goalkicking fullback for Widnes and then Hull in England, but is best known in Australia as coach of the 1962 Great Britain side, which won the Ashes series 2-1, and is rated one of the best sides to tour here.

Hutton also coached the 1968 British World Cup side in Australia,

and managed British sides from 1980 to ‘82.

was on the receiving end, with Townsville winning 16-15.

He had a 60-year association with Hull Kingston Rovers, first as coach, and then as chairman.

The following year Kovacich represented North Queensland in the state trials. All three members of Innisfail Southern Suburbs’ 1968 front row – props Kovacich and Vlad Polich and hooker George Pervan – went on become presidents and life members of the club.

His stint as coach included a victory over the 1967 Kangaroos.

Hutton was president of the Rugby Football League in the early 1990s and was made a life member.

He was widely revered as an administrator, highly respected in Australia and by the many Aussie players who played for Rovers.

Bobby Magee

Following news of his death (on February 3, aged 90) The House of Commons carried a motion recognising his work.

Close friend and former Test fullback Graham Eadie said Magee had been a big part of his life for more than 30 years and he would be sadly missed by the football community.

The main grandstand at Hull KR’s stadium, Craven Park, is named after him, and his funeral service was held at the ground.

Vic Kovacich Vic Kovacich, who died on 11 April aged 72, was a stalwart of Innisfail’s Southern Suburbs club, a prop forward who went on to become secretary, then president of the club.

Bobby Magee, who died in late April, was a tireless worker for Bilambil Jets and for rugby league.

“Bobby was a legend, not only to me but for many young footballers coming through the ranks,” said Eadie.

“He looked after players from Seagulls, Bilambil, Gold Coast Chargers, rep sides and countless other clubs.”

He made his Foley Shield debut for Innisfail when he was just 20, and became a regular in the side.

He was a member of the 1964 side which beat Townsville 30-8 in the grand final, a match refereed by Laurie Bruyeres from Sydney.

Innisfail made the final again in 1967, but this time Kovacich

Bobby Magee proudly steps out in his Bilambil Jets colours.

Caring the men, women andsent children of the rugby league community 43 Contributions for consideration in for these pages can be to magazine@menofleague.com

Great mate, proud Brit … but don’t call Mick a Pom

By Steve Ricketts

Mick Adams was a legend in his home town, Widnes in England, and was equally loved in his adopted home, Tamworth in Australia.

Adams, who died suddenly from a heart attack on March 10, was farewelled by one of the largest congregations in Tamworth history, with almost 1500 people packing into the local convention centre on 21 March.

To the strains of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and ‘Ferry Across the Mersey’, the casket was carried from the hall through a guard of honour of former teammates and rivals, as well as Tamworth residents.

Among mourners were former Widnes and CanterburyBankstown teammates Keith Harris, Chris Anderson and John Peek; former Widnes, Cronulla and Great Britain utility back David Eckersley; legendary former Australian centre Harry Wells; former Test forward Dennis Tutty; former Test referee Mick Stone; and exSydney first graders John Baker and Barry Le Brocq.

It was Harris who introduced Mick to his future wife, Christine Dening, on a blind date in Tamworth in 1975, when Mick was playing with Canterbury.

Mick and Christine married four years later in Tamworth when Mick was touring Australia and New Zealand with the Great Britain rugby league side.

Adams played 13 Tests for Britain and five Tests for England between 1975 and ‘84, touring Australia with the 1979 and ‘84 sides. He played 415 top grade matches for Widnes (scoring 68 tries) and 26 games for Canterbury.

At Canterbury, Adams played in the same pack as former Australian skipper Bob McCarthy, who had moved from Souths where he had won four premierships. In one game against St George, McCarthy scored three tries, all of them from Adams’ passes.

“Mick got a nine (out of 10) rating in Rugby League Week that day,” McCarthy recalled.

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Mick Adams in his Widnes kit ... he remains a club legend.

Adams was identified as a talent right from the time he first played primary school rugby league in Widnes.

He graduated to the top grade with Widnes (then known as the Chemics because of the concentration of chemical plants in the town) at a time when a largely home grown side was developing into the British club power house of the mid-1970s and 1980s.

During his time with Widnes, the club featured in 25 Cup finals, ranging from Lancashire Cup and Regal Trophy competitions to the most prestigious of all, the Challenge Cup final at Wembley. Adams finished his career with four Challenge Cup winner’s medals, including two as skipper.

In 1977-78, Widnes won the English championship, awarded to the side sitting top of the ladder after home and away fixtures. There were no grand finals in those days. In 1992 Adams was inducted into the Widnes Hall of Fame.

When Adams made Tamworth home in the late 1980s, he resisted the temptation to play with, or coach, one of the local clubs in the Group 4 competition.

And he remained an active sportsman after his retirement from football, playing touch football, hockey, cricket and golf.

Instead he devoted himself to his young family, whilst earning a reputation in the Tamworth community as a humble man, who had time for everyone, and was always available to lend a helping hand.

He was a gentleman, but like all British league players of his time, knew how to look after himself on the field, as former Australian forward Paul Vautin attests.

Through his work as a courier driver, he met a wide cross section of people, many of whom had no idea about his past as a rugby league hero in England.

That was one of the most striking things about Adams funeral – most of the people in attendance were from outside the league fraternity.

Not that he ever turned his back on the game.

He attended a host of Men of League functions, and Friday night football at the Adams’ family house was a meeting place for neighbours who loved Mick’s sense of humor and commentary on the game.

“In the second Test against the Poms in Brisbane in ‘84, I went to tackle Mick about three minutes from full-time and he got me with an elbow,” Vautin recalls. “I finished up with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone.”

Maybe ‘Fatty’ had called Mick a Pom. That was one thing he hated. “I’m an Englishman,” he would always retort, when someone call him a Pom. There was no finer Englishman than Mick Adams.

Following news of his death, the crowd at Widnes’ next home game (against Castleford) honoured his memory with a minute’s applause. Mick Adams is survived by his wife, Christine and children, Jenni, Matthew and Amy.

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NRL Wellbeing & Education

The goal of the wellbeing and education program is to turn talented boys into men of character and integrity; men who are better for being part of rugby league.

Being together key to good wellbeing The National NRL/RLPA wellbeing and education managers’ conference was recently held in Sydney.

This involved all the wellbeing and education and careers coaching staff from the 16 NRL clubs as well as the wellbeing staff from NRL, RLPA, NSWRL, QRL, NZRL, CRL and the Men of League Foundation.

The objective of the conference was to update everyone on the wellbeing and education plans for the 2018 season as well as to provide professional development and networking opportunities for all wellbeing staff throughout the game. The agenda included: 1. Understanding addiction and enablers 2. Creating a safe environment within clubs for honest disclosure 3. Cultural and spiritual engagement activities

based at individual clubs they all feel that they can work closely together and provide a consistent support community across the game.

There is also so much media around the negative wellbeing aspects that we often forget the huge inroads that have been made in entrenching wellbeing and education within every club’s framework.

The game can now proudly boast that 85 percent of all NRL contracted players are engaged in some form of career development outside of their rugby league playing, and over 5000 players and staff have been educated on the social risks and opportunities available to players.

More than half the playing group have developed wellbeing plans and and guys who have recently transitioned and have tapped into all the support services and programs available, have expressed appreciation at the difference this has made to their transition experience.

within clubs 4. Involvement of the family in NRL clubs 5. The purpose and benefits of meditation 6. Recognising compassion fatigue 7. Mental Health Partnerships with Headspace and Davidson Trahaire Corpsych 8. Safe driving with Transport for NSW The main benefit of national conferences such as this was the bringing together of people dealing with the same issues and the ability to share stories and ideas on how best to perform our roles. While most staff are 46

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National NRL/RLPA wellbeing and education managers conference, Sydney.

Smooth transition – Andrew Ryan For me, I found it took quite a few years to feel comfortable with life, post-footy. I missed the team environment, the camaraderie and training with 25 of your best mates every day.

I thought that I was very well prepared for life after football but there are some parts of transition I’m still getting used to and there will be bits about playing footy that I will always miss.

Other guys have shared the same opinion with me and have said that when they get together with past teammates, and when they keep training, it really helps.

This feedback has helped to shape our transition programs and support.

How do you help guys who are missing the team environment?

One of our new programs is called ‘Keep Fit, Keep Connected’ and we’re running it in multiple locations.

We bring guys together for a training session and then head out for a networking breakfast. The feedback has been that the guys love getting back into that group training environment. It’s been great to see work and business referrals happen over breakfast, as well as mutual support and a bit of banter.

Dragonfit session with Josh Miller, Shane Millard, John Cross, Andrew Ryan, Russell Aitken, Ben Creagh and Dan Hunt.

What other support is out there for NRL guys in transition?

Individual support Sitting down with guys one-on-one and providing support in their transition is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding parts of my job.

These guys have given so much to the game they love, and it’s only fitting that we support them into the next phase of their life and help them transition into the next pathway they will love.

Career Support As part of the transition program, the guys also have access to ongoing career support through our two specialists, Jane Lowder and Judy Fitzgerald.

This can include anything from planning a new career direction, helping with a resume, preparing for an interview or talking through a new business idea.

Education and Counselling Support If guys are keen to study they can tap into education grants. Free and confidential counselling is also available to guys, their partners and families for several years into transition.

RLPA Support The RLPA also importantly provides ongoing entitlements from the guys’ playing days including royalty and retirement funds and medical cover options.

All the above services are specifically designed for guys who are within five years of their transition.

For any former players post the five-year transition mark, we work closely with the Men of League Foundation for ongoing support and are of assistance where it is needed.

Gold Coast breakfast with (from left) Ben Hannant, Clinton Schifcofske, Michael Witt, Andrew Ryan, Chris Walker, Paul Stephenson, Ash Harrison, Kevin Campion, Luke O’Dwyer and Matt Srama.

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Chris-crossing footy codes Chris McKivat holds a special place in Australia’s sports history. He is the only man to captain the Wallabies and Kangaroos in a Test, is North Sydney’s only premiership-winning coach, plus he won an Olympic gold medal, to boot.

By Barry Ross

Chris McKivat possesses a unique place in Australian sporting history, as a man who oozed class on and off the field and who success, and his peers, seemed to follow.

McKivat (1879-1941) remains the only man to captain the Kangaroos and the Wallabies in a Test match. He also captained the Wallabies to an Olympic gold medal at the 1908 London Games.

A clever and tough rugby union halfback and five-eighth, McKivat was a member of the first Wallaby team to tour Britain which sailed from Sydney on the RMS Omrah on 8 August 1908.

Interestingly, the first Kangaroos were playing in England at the same time as the Wallabies who a week later.

Playing at 79kg and 173cm, McKivat played in 33 games on the tour which lasted 32 weeks, captaining Australia in 13 matches including the Olympic final and the Test match against England. Only two teams competed in the rugby tournament at the Olympics – Australia and England, who were represented by 1907 county champions Cornwall. Scotland, Ireland, France and Wales were invited but declined.

Australia won the only game, the final, 32-3.

After tour captain Dr Herbert Moran slipped on a patch of ice while walking with the team on New Year’s Eve and sprained his Achilles tendon, McKivat was named captain for the first ever Test against England, at the Rectory Field in Blackheath, which Australia won 9-3.

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Six months after the Wallabies returned to Australia, McKivat was one of 12 players expelled by the Metropolitan Rugby Union after he received a rumoured 200 pounds, instead of the 100 pounds most other Wallabies were paid, to switch to rugby league.

The day after he was expelled, he captained a ‘Wallaby’ team who were defeated 29-26 by the Kangaroos at the Agricultural Ground in Sydney. Three more such matches were played over the next two weeks and the series ended two-all.

McKivat was born at Burrawang, near Bowral, on 27 November 1879 as the fifth of 10 children to his Irish father Edward McKivat and Tasmanian mother, Susan. The family were potato farmers. They moved to Orange in the mid-1880s where he began playing rugby union. He was 23 before he represented Combined Country, against Metropolis and the touring All Blacks, in 1903.

He moved to Sydney to join the Glebe club in 1905 and won premierships in 1906 and ‘07.

After making his Test debut against the All Blacks in 1905, McKivat had played only four Tests but was a prize signing for the league men because of his astute play and strong influence on the teams as a mid-field general.

Always well-dressed, McKivat had a quiet and calm off-field personality but, on the field, he was a talker, constantly directing play and barking out orders.

In 2010, McKivat captained Glebe in the Sydney Rugby League competition and represented NSW and Australia against the touring Englishmen. He made his Test debut at the Agricultural Ground on 18 June, aged 30, in a 27-20 defeat. He played in the second Test in Brisbane two weeks later, scoring a try in Australia’s 22-17 defeat, and then played in two games for Australasia (which included Kiwis Albert Opai Asher and Riki Papakura who had starred on the 1909 Maori touring team) captained by Dally Messenger.

Around 50,000 fans turned up for the first match at the Agricultural Ground which ended in a 13-all draw, with McKivat scoring one of Australasia’s three tries. Four days later, at Wentworth Park, he scored two of his team’s six tries in their impressive 32-15 victory.

The 1911-12 Kangaroos sailed out of Sydney on 5 August 1911 and McKivat was chosen as captain after a vote by the players. The team included four New Zealanders: George Gilbert, Frank Woodward, Charlie Savory and Arthur ‘Bolla’ Francis, who was a former All Black.

McKivat played 31 of 36 games, including all three Tests. The tourists won the first Test 19-10 at Newcastle, drew the second 11-all at Edinburgh and became the first Kangaroos team to bring home the Ashes, beating England 33-8 at Birmingham, with McKivat scoring a try in his final Test. He scored 10 tries on tour, adding to his 11 tries on the 1908 Wallabies tour.

His career also included 13 games for NSW, one for Metropolis and 54 games for Glebe from 1910 to 1914 when he retired at age 33. Glebe were minor premiers in 1911 but lost the grand final, or ‘challenge final’ as it was known in those times (played only if the minor premiers were beaten in the final), 11-8 to Easts.

In the first few years of his retirement, McKivat helped Glebe as a committeeman and did some coaching. North Sydney signed him as first grade coach in 1920 and he won the City Cup in his first season. He then guided the Bears to their only first grade premierships, in 1921 and 1922 – another feat which gives him a special place in league history. He later did some part-time coaching with visiting Country teams to Sydney and coached Western Suburbs in 1928.

In 1986 McKivat was admitted to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and selected as one of league’s 100 greatest players.

He died on 4 May 1941, aged 61, following a thyroid operation. He and wife Elizabeth had one son, Chris jnr, who had a son Michael, daughter Kerry and adopted son Paul.

Michael and Kerry have valuable mementos of their famous grandfather, including his Olympic gold medal and scroll, a 1900 Orange Our Boys cap, a 1907-08 Wallaby cap, the 1911-12 Kangaroo captain’s cap, plus medals from North Sydney’s 1921 and 1922 premierships.

In 2016, they were guests at Men of League’s gala dinner which unveiled the Captain’s Captain (he was one of the leading contenders), representing their grandfather.

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Visit our new website menofleague.com

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Committee News Brisbane

By Steve Ricketts, publicity officer The annual Ron Atkins Charity Golf Day was another raging success, with 90 participants on fine autumn day at the Keperra Country Golf Club. The event, held after a barbeque breakfast, took the form of a four person Ambrose and attendees included former Test backs Ben Ikin and Ross Strudwick and 1977 Brisbane Rothmans Gold Medal winner Alan Currie.

Gary McDonnell and his team from Formula Interiors (including Ben Ikin) claimed first place and generously re-donated their prize. Steve Plath and his team from Tacoma Consultancy Services claimed second prize, while third place went to Isaak Ah Mau and his team from NAB Financial Planning. There also was a special raffle for a Men of League esky, kindly donated by Darren Fraser and his team from Queensland Tee Shirt Co. Brisbane committee president Ian Gatenby said the day would not have been possible without major sponsors Hutchinson Builders, plus all the hole and prize sponsors.

The Brisbane committee’s most recent Kick-Off Club lunch, at Broncos Leagues Club on 12 April, featured former Queensland State of Origin lock Ash Harrison as the interview subject.

Guests included Ash’ father, Barney, former Queensland five-eighth, Graham Lena, Mid North Coast (NSW) committee president Brian Atherton, former Deputy Commissioner of Police Greg Early and former Australian team manager Graham Kerr.

It was great to see a table of former Rockhampton league identities at the lunch, among them Matt O’Hanlon, Steve Parle and Gerry McKendry.

Just three days earlier, the Brisbane committee was proud to be involved with Wynnum-Manly Seagulls past players luncheon at BMD Kougari Oval. This is set to become an annual event.

The committee provided memorabilia for the raffle.

Ian Gatenby passed on his thanks to Wynnum-Manly Leagues Club operations manager Joseph Wood and his team for their help on the day.

Winners are grinners … the Formula Interiors team that included Ben Ikin (left) at the Ron Atkins Charity Golf Day.

Guests included Intrust Super chief executive officer Brendan O’Farrell, Queensland Men of League chairman Darryl Van de Velde and former Test winger Lionel Morgan, the first indigenous man to play rugby league for Australia.

On 16 March, former Test forward Bryan Niebling was guest speaker at a joint Men of League/Club Pine Rivers lunch which was attended by several former players, among them brothers John and Mick McCabe (Valleys) and John and Peter McDonald (Wests).

The committee extends its thanks to Red Hill Community Sports Club (formerly Ithaca Bowls Club) which made its premises available for recent meetings.

Former Test forward Lew Platz will be guest speaker at our next Broncos Kick-Off Club lunch on August 9.

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Bundaberg

By Terry Dodd, president Since our last magazine, the Bundaberg Men of League committee have had our share of sadness following rugby league players and members passing on or falling to serious health problems.

Former top player Kerry Cooper passed away after a long battle with cancer and only recently Chris Kirkpatrick, a former Bundaberg player, lost his battle with the same illness. As we go to press a number of other members are doing it tough with illness.

To all of you our thoughts are with you and your families, so stay strong and you will win out in the end.

Every year we talk of ways to improve our membership numbers so we are always trying to get people to join.

So, it is with great pleasure that last month we signed up over 30 new members and our sincere thanks goes out to Brothers Rugby League women’s team of 24 who all joined our association.

The Bundaberg Race Club have confirmed we have been allocated Saturday 9 December for our Christmas race day meeting at Thabeban Park.

Let’s hope we have no rain that day because, as you all know, the last two years have been washed out.

Before I sign off, if anyone knows of someone who is doing it tough at the moment please contact us or ring wellbeing officer Mark Hanson on 0421 828 536 as we may help able to them in recovery.

Congratulations to our committee with special mention to Graham Willard and our secretary Sue Gerrard in organising a very productive day. We are also grateful once again to Wayne Brownlie and the Queanbeyan Bowling Club for their continual support for this event.

The Men of League’s Canberra Raiders round was held on 1 April at Bruce Stadium with Raiders playing the Eels.

The weather was perfect, unlike last year which was a very cold and miserable day. Jessica from head office attended, along with members of our hardworking committee.

We managed to sign up quite a few new members along with distributing membership applications and giving verbal information about the Men of League Foundation to many personnel on the day. Thanks go to Jessica for her effort and to members of our committee.

Our committee is busy organising our first gala dinner which will be held on Friday 21 July at the Queanbeyan Kangaroos Leagues Club. Our special guests will be our president Ron Coote AM, Bob McCarthy, former Raiders captain and Canberra’s Australian of the Year Alan Tongue (now a Men of League national director) and Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.

I would ask all our members to please mark this date on your calendar and join us in making this a successful fund raiser for the Foundation.

Canberra Monaro

By Noel Bissett OAM, president On Saturday 25 March we held our annual luncheon and bowls day at the Queanbeyan Bowling Club. The weather was overcast and the rain held off until it was time to commence bowling. Luckily the rain was not continual or heavy and all participants played on and completed a fun day.

Our guest speaker was well known former Raiders captain and international Terry Campese. Terry spoke about his early days playing rugby league in the local area and his progress throughout in reaching international status, including his experience playing in the English Super League with Hull KR. He has now settled back in his home town and is coaching Queanbeyan Blues.

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Special guest Terry Campese and Raiders female players at the Canberra bowls day.

Central Coast

Far North Queensland

By Dennis Tomsett, publicity officer A bowls day was held at the Ettalong Bowling Club on 27 February with 126 bowlers participating.

By Kev Maher OAM, publicity officer The Far North Queensland committee hosted a golf day with the Bulls Masters at the Cairns Golf Club on Friday 5 May.

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

We appreciate the continued support of the Ettalong Bowling Club directors and staff. Special thanks go to the businesses, clubs and individuals for their generous support in donating the prizes.

It was indeed pleasing to see former member of the Woy Woy club, Garry Polglase, attend dressed in Western Suburbs Magpies colours. Garry is recovering after the amputation of some of his toes.

NSW wellbeing and education manager Ben Ross attended, chatting with bowlers during the games and then addressed them during the presentation.

A race day will be held at Gosford Race Club on 20 July and a golf day at Shelly Beach on 22 September.

Bulls Masters’ Andrew Symonds, Jimmy Maher, Luke Feldman and Ken Healy tested their golfing skills against FOGS Greg Dowling, Ty Williams and other league legends.

May was a busy month with the Back to the Game function held at Mareeba Leagues Club on 20 May which coincided with the Mareeba Gladiators v Ivanhoe Knights clash.

Special guest was former North Queensland and Queensland forward Stan Williams, who coached Mareeba Wests in 1964.

Far North Men of League has a luncheon planned for Friday 14 July as a prelude to the Cowboys v South Sydney match in Cairns on 16 July and we are also looking forward to a visit again by the Prime Minister’s XIII as they travel through to PNG in September.

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Fraser Coast

Gold Coast

By Kev Embrey, president Men of League Fraser Coast have been busy, holding a very successful sportsman’s dinner on 11 February at the Beach House Hotel. The dinner was a first held in Hervey Bay with great special guests on the night including Queensland league legend Petero Civoniceva, boxer Jarrod Fletcher and cricketer Nathan Hauritz.

By Greg Sylvester, wellbeing officer The Gold Coast Men of League annual international gala dinner was held on 24 February and once again it was a great success.

Our MC Scott Rowe once again did a marvellous job interviewing our guests and we were pleased to have Darryl Van de Velde from the national board and his wife in attendance.

We would also like to thank all our sponsors on the night; they have booked in for next year already Saturday 10 February 2018 so mark it on your calendar.

Our AGM was held in March and we had a great roll up. We would like to welcome two new members to our committee, Kev Clarke and Dave Manning. We are looking forward for another great year and to increase our drive for new members.

Central Burnett trials were held in Eidsvold on 25 March, playing for the Men of League Fraser Coast Shield. The day was won by Mundubbera, with the shield presented by former Queensland representative Gary Pearson.

Our member Gavin Ford launched his autobiography ‘Fordee’s Story, My Two Lives’ at the bowls club in Mundubbera that night with many of our members travelling over for the event.

A bowls day was held at the Doon Villa Bowls Club Sunday 28 May. Many thanks to Peter and his co-workers for a successful day.

There were over 20 internationals in attendance, as well as the following widows and wives – Esme Clay (Brian), Shirley Gallagher (Peter), Bobby Bugden (partner of Bob who was to unable attend due to illness), and Elsie Diamond (wife of Bob who could not attend as he was in hospital).

Special guest, cricket legend Ian Healy, was the star of the night with his tales of his cricket career, his observation on the current game and his rugby league career, where he represented Queensland as a halfback in primary school.

Neil Cadigan compèred the evening and his interviews with Ray Price, Bob Honan, Geoff Richardson, Chris Close (who has lost an amazing 40kg), Mat Peterson, Brad Meyers and Anthony Laffranchi were terrific. Thanks Neil, your efforts were greatly appreciated.

Also, we would like to thank Ian Amos, the staff at the Burleigh Bears Leagues Club, the Gold Coast committee and Sue and Steve ‘The Whiz)’ Martin for supplying accommodation at Surfers Chalet, which they manage.

It is pleasing to report that, after being admitted to hospital twice over the past month, Bob Diamond is now home and receiving great care from his loving wife Elsie and daughter Jenny.

Bob represented Australia during the 1948 Kangaroo tour to Great Britain and France at just 18 years of age.

Brian Johnson is also recovering from an operation to his pacemaker. Brian, who played for St George in the 50s, was also a very good cricketer (wicketkeeper for Petersham-Marrickville) tennis and squash player.

Our next two events are the golf day which will be held on Friday 15 September at Emerald Lakes, and the bowls and Christmas get together on Friday 8 December at the Gold Coast Bowls and Community Centre.

Three eras of front row forwards attending the sportsman’s dinner: Gary Pearson (Wide Bay, Qld), Petero Civoniceva (Qld, Australia, Fiji) and Rod McGrath (Wide Bay).

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Preparations are well in advance for the 2018 Gold Coast internationals gala dinner which will be held at Burleigh Bears on Friday 23 February.

Goondiwindi

Illawarra

By Michael Steepe, wellbeing and media officer The Goondiwindi Men of League committee began 2017 with some changes made to the committee at the AGM in January.

By Barry Harle, publicity officer Another great Kick-Off Club was held at Kiama Leagues Club on Friday 24 February.

Long serving president Trevor Brown decided to step down and the committee also said goodbye to Men of League stalwart, wellbeing and media officer Ken Milgate. We thank them both for their contributions.

With that said, some new faces were elected to the committee as the Goondiwindi branch looks forward to another great year.

The 2017 committee is: president Ernie Silcock; vice-president Bruce Forrest; secretary Peter Sullivan; treasurer Jason Quinnell; wellbeing and media officer Michael Steepe.

The Goondiwindi branch also welcomed Queensland wellbeing and education officer Mark Bunting, who came out and spent some time with the new committee and answered questions the committee or members had. We thank Mark for taking the time to visit us.

Gympie

By Greg Pountney, secretary Our first Kick-Off Club of the year featured speaker and author Karen Clarke. Karen spoke on ways individuals can develop resilience and learn how to overcome the challenge of bullying and dominance and deal with difficult people. It was a very interesting presentation and I recommend Karen to any committee looking for a good speaker away from the usual rugby league topics.

The event had plenty of attendance and was an entertaining night.

Guest speaker was former Easts, Balmain and Wests Illawarra hooker Ian McCarthy who had his family, including his grandkids, there to enjoy the occasion.

Illawarra Rugby League’s Chris Bannerman advises that the local competition is being assisted by local retailer The Hardware Man who will take three-year naming rights sponsorship of the senior and second division competitions.

Inspirations Paint will have naming rights to the women’s competition which is growing every day.

Bendigo Bank will have rights to juniors.

Thanks to those organisations for their assistance.

This year will see changes at CRL rep levels where the championships will be played in an under-23s format and Illawarra will join with Group 7 to form Illawarra/ South Coast Warriors.

The mighty St George Illawarra Dragons are giving us much hope under the great coaching of Paul ‘Mary’ McGregor. Keep it going boys.

Don’t forget next Kick-Off Club at Windang on 16 June – and our annual bowls day on 21 July. Members will be emailed later with final details.

Our next night will feature Kris Kahler, a Gympie boy who played for the Broncos, Raiders and Titans before playing in France and England.

Men of League had a membership table at a reunion of the Suburbs club from the now defunct Gympie competition. The reunion, attended by more than 130 people, celebrated their grand final victory 20 years ago. The win was notable for having 20-year-old Nev Bermingham as their captain-coach. Former Gold Coast Chargers player Bennet King was one of the people who came back for the day.

We continue to support people with nursing home and home visits and telephone calls. If you are online and not receiving emails about coming events please contact me at Gympie@menofleague.com to update your details.

Ian McCarthy and family at the Kiama Kick-Off Club.

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Mid North Coast

By Marshall Loadsman, media liaison and publicity officer Our members were devastated to hear the news of Mick Adams’ sudden passing in Tamworth.

sub-committee at Grafton, Macksville and Bellingen.

If anyone would like to contact me it would be appreciated. We are currently looking at bowls and golf days at Woolgoolga and Grafton.

Only two weeks earlier Mick had attended our race day at Tuncurry racecourse and returned the following Thursday for our annual Men of League golf day.

The date has been set for our best event, the Coffs Harbour race day breakfast, on 15 December. The day before, Thursday 14 December, we will hold be a golf day at Bonville. Please do not hesitate to contact me for more information on 0414 227 068, or you can email me at barrettcoote@gmail.com

Ten of our members travelled to Tamworth for Mick’s funeral – suitably, the biggest most of us have ever attended.

North West

Our race day was a huge success and our thanks go to Garry McQuillan and his Tuncurry-Forster Jockey Club committee for inviting us to be part of the day. Our thanks also to News Limited journalist Dean Ritchie for his attendance and providing Sea Eagles material as prizes for our various race day competitions.

The Mid North Coast Men of League golf day at Forster Golf Club was close to our best with a capacity field for golf and an even bigger crowd for the all afternoon luncheon. There were too many Men of League legends to list but it goes without saying that each of you contributed to an outstanding day.

We also supported the Forster-Tuncurry Hawks at their season launch at Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club where former Manly players Ian Martin and Jamie Lyon were popular official guests.

By John Campbell Numerous wellbeing visits and financial support requests have been completed over the past couple of months, reaching many people who have appreciated the Men of League’s support.

The Manilla sub-committee are having a centenary weekend of rugby league on 7-9 July, culminating with a bowls day on the 9th. The Manilla bowls day is always well supported and we are looking forward to joining in the Manilla club’s celebrations.

Our Narrabri sub-committee will also be holding a bowls day on the 29 July.

The Gunnedah sub-committee held a successful golf day on 23 April with 100 players taking to the course and about $6300 was raised.

And whilst on the subject of Ian Martin, he attended our race day, our golf day, travelled to Tamworth with Harry Wells for Mick Adams’ funeral and then returned to our region for the Hawks function all in the space of three weeks. A big, big thank you goes to a true gentleman.

Winners of the four-ball-best-ball were Tim Kennedy (local referee), Peter Vernon, Kobe Harrie and Luke Isbester. Ambrose winners were John and Fay Hausfeld. Knights premiership player Matt Parsons was our special guest and ex-Roosters player Chris Doyle also enjoyed the day.

North Coast

Northern Rivers

By Peter Barrett, president On a positive note – we organised a bowls day for Paul Davis, a former Balmain Tigers five-eighth in the 1990s as he has fallen on bad health held at Macksville Country Club.

By Garry Ensbey, media officer The Northern Rivers committee of Men of League held a greyhound night on 14 March with a small crowd due to rain and recent state government interventions.

We thank the 10 local community businesses which sponsored the 10-race program, featuring the Norma Abbott Memorial Race.

Paul holds the record of five premierships with Macksville Sea Eagles as a player and a coach. On a sad note – we lost a foundation member and wellbeing officer Richard Marriott.

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At our last committee meeting, we farewelled one of our local members – rugby league legend Kevin Junee – who has decided to move from the green fields of Nimbin to the Central Coast area. We wish him well in the future.

Northern Sydney

Riverina

By Trevor Bailey, president Our wellbeing committee has definitely hit the ground running this year with Ken, Norm, Fred and Greg doing an enormous amount of work.

By Ian Lloyd, acting secretary The Riverina Men of League recently held our annual Wagga Gold Cup breakfast. It was a successful fundraiser with over 100 people making their way to the William Farrer Hotel to hear guest speakers Liam Prior, from the Chris Waller racehorse stable, former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and ex-Wallaby Damien Smith.

They’ve called on Dave Miles, Dave Moon, Austin Hoyle and Barry Cross plus spoken to many more just to check on their wellbeing.

The official opening of the Sargood Centre at Collaroy Beach was a highlight, with three of our nominees – Vickie Hudson, Kevin Langdon and Dave Miles – due to attend the centre on a trial basis.

The Sargood Centre is a world class rehab centre for those who have suffered spinal injuries and also caters for their carers.

It is run by the Royal Rehab at Ryde where our wellbeing team spend a lot of time.

None of this great work would happen without the fund-raising efforts of our entire committee.

Club Belrose hosted our annual bowls day in March.

Unfortunately, we had the wettest March in recent historical records.

This meant we had to cancel the bowls component of the day but those who attended had a great day and with their help managed to raise a lot of money.

Our upcoming events include our annual golf day, Knuckles and Cheeks sports lunch and the family Christmas Kick-Off Club. The event calendar is jam packed for the year ahead:

We thank all three for giving up their time. Items were auctioned and our local bookmakers donated betting vouchers as raffle prizes.

We wish to thank sponsors who contribute so much to the success of the breakfast as well as our hardy ban of committee members.

Our next major fundraiser will be our Caulfield Cup race day at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Saturday 21 October. This will once again coincide with Group 9’s best and fairest award (Weissel Medal) count.

An added attraction is the NSW Country Rugby League under-23s representative team will be playing the Samoa team in a Rugby League World Cup warm-up.

This will be held at McDonalds Park Wagga on the Friday prior to our fundraiser, which will see an added influx of players, supporters and officials to Wagga.

Thank you to the CRL for bringing this game to Wagga and for the opportunity for Men of League to add to our fundraising efforts.

• Annual golf day – 26 May, at the time of writing this is booked out.

• Kick-Off Club – 29 July, Berowra Football Club.

• Back to the Bears day – date TBC, North Sydney Oval.

• Manly’s Men of League round – 16 July, Brookvale Oval.

• Knuckles and Cheeks sports lunch – 1 September, Collaroy Surf Club.

• Finish off the year with our ever-popular family Christmas Kick Off Club – 1 December, North Narrabeen Surf Club.

Left: Special guests Damien Smith and Brad Haddin. Right: Graeme White interviewing Liam Prior at the Wagga Gold Cup breakfast.

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Roma

Southern Monaro

By Owen Lingard, president The first event for 2017 was the Terry Charles Memorial Dinner in conjunction with the Taroom/ Wandoan Battlers RLFC. Guest speakers were former Queensland, Gold Coast, Parramatta and Broncos player Stu Kelly and Queensland Outback operations manager Peter Rafter. Stu travelled all the way from Dorrigo in NSW and battled flood waters to attend.

We cannot thank Stu enough for his efforts.

By Glen Bedingfield We held the annual Craig ‘Reggie’ Elton Memorial Bowls Day on Saturday 11 March.

The event was a reunion for the Battlers’ A-grade 1988 premiership winning team and there was an interesting presentation on the history of how the club was formed by having a meeting under a tree in front of the Taroom Post Office. Cattle were sold to help with finances and Stu Kelly’s grandfather was one of the organising committee members.

John Chaplin interviewed several local legends and this was most entertaining. Former Battlers and Roma district player Wes Kallquist had the audience in fits of laughter with his stories. Local player Luke Baker was presented vouchers from Men of League. Luke has renal failure and had to travel the 800km round trip for renal check-ups.

The Roma Men of League committee would like thank the Battlers committee and the Leichhardt Hotel for their hospitality over the weekend. We would also like to thank Roma district league president Peter Flynn who supplied a fully signed framed State of Origin jersey and 2016 Olympic Rugby Sevens gold medallist Emilee Cherry who gave us her signed framed training jersey. A significant amount was raised from these auctions.

Also happening in the area: Chippy Walsh, a former Roma Cities player who has walking disability, has been presented with a mobility scooter; vice-president Lyle Cherry received Citizen of the Year in the recent Australia Day awards; and the committee is proud to say we have signed up 30 new members.

A scene from Taroom Wandoan Battlers dinner.

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There was a fantastic roll up to the Bombala RSL club to meet, greet and play. Guests included former Canberra Raiders player Paul Elliott, and there were close to 60 bowlers registered, including many who had travelled far and wide from places like Nimmitabel, Delegate, Tura Beach, Canberra and Queanbeyan.

The day went smoothly thanks to the small army of volunteer including Reigh Callaway who prepared the greens; Tommy Herbert who organised the special guest invitations to the Elton family; Bombala RSL club staff; the bowling association committee members; the barbeque cooks and MC John Bedingfield.

The bowls itself was intense with plenty of skill on show from some of the best local footballers of the leather ball era. The triples format used for the day gave everybody a chance to win and some of our ladies were the strongest challengers.

There were only winners on the day as the same old stories got their annual re-run on a perfect afternoon.

This event is growing in popularity each year and next year we hope to see a few more locals and ex-pats from far and wide join in the fun.

We wish to send out a get well soon to Jimmy Parkes and Judy Rodwell after being involved in a recent vehicle accident, along with Reigh Callaway and Coopy Baker. We hope they all recover quickly.

A big thank you goes to our sponsors Bombala RSL and IGA Bombala we look forward to seeing you all at our golf day in September.

Former Canberra Raiders Paul Elliott, Matt Jones with Billy Callaway.

Southern Sydney

By Bruce Thompson, secretary We started a busy year with a Kick-Off Club at JD’s in Cronulla, who are great supporters of Men of League, where our guest was the Sharks’ premiership winning coach Shane Flanagan.

Shane’s open and honest style gave everyone an insight into some of the things that delivered the Sharks their first ever premiership. It was good to see the great Tommy Ryan among many league identities in the room.

Committee members were then involved in the ‘50/50’ initiative at Kogarah Oval during the Dragons’ game against the Cowboys where $2500 found its way into the Men of League coffers.

Thanks to all who donned the aprons and iPads and wandered the ground extracting cash from the patrons.

Then it was time to acknowledge the first Cronulla Sutherland Sharks team of 1967.

A luncheon at Sharks was held in May where 10 members of that first side and the ball boy attended with other rugby league celebrities John Peard, Steve Mortimer, Chris Mortimer, Gavin Miller, Barry Russell and Tom Bishop just to name just a few.

The players from the Sharks side who attended were Terry Hughes, Brian Cox, Warren Ryan, Dave Cooper, Greg Miller, Jack Danzey, Eric Barnes, Dennis Hewitt, Phil Silvester and Ray Westwood. Apologies came from Alan McRitchie and Garry McDougall – (if anyone can help us locate John ‘Bomber’ Hynes, please give me a call). Monty Porter’s wife Nola and daughter Caroline also attended.

The Sharks team that made history in 1967 gather 50 years later.

Sunshine Coast

By Tony Durkin, publicity officer Former Test wicketkeeper Ian Healy played rugby league for Queensland while he was in primary school but always realised cricket was the sport he would pursue as a career.

Healy was guest speak at the Sunshine Coast’s April Kick-Off Club at Mooloolaba Surf Club and totally won the audience of 140 with his tales of cricket, television and life experiences, as well as a little on rugby league.

“I never really regarded myself as a particularly good footballer,” said Healy who is in partnership in a Brisbane carwash business, Hoppy’s, with former Broncos Chris Johns and Kevin Walters.

“As a kid growing up in Biloela I played most sports and was lucky enough to make the Queensland primary schools rugby league team in 1980.

MC Alan Wilson did an outstanding job with many a funny story from the ‘67 side as well as the other luminaries in the room.

“Michael Hagan was in that side, and Danny Stains, but cricket was more to my liking, even way back then.”

It was a great event attended by 150 supporters of Men of League who also generously supported the auction and raffle.

Healy, who played 119 Tests and 168 one-day internationals for Australia, missed just the one match during his reign as Australia’s ‘keeper despite breaking all eight fingers as well as both his thumbs.

The Southern Sydney committee has organised a ‘how well do you know the Game’ trivia night at Sharks on 5 July and a ‘Tribute to Bath’s Babes – the 1977 premiership winning Dragons 40 years on, to be held on 8 September.

Lastly, don’t forget to tell us about those from the rugby league community that could do with some help, even if it is a home or hospital visit. That’s what we are about.

His Test career ran from 1988 to 1997. The highlight was keeping wickets to leg spinner Shane Warne, the man Healy rates among the greatest bowlers he has seen.

But he said the genius leg spinner was also among the game’s best sledgers.

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“At one stage, he had Daryll Cullinan, the extremely talented South African batsman, in such a state that one of his fellow team members approached me and asked if I could get Warnie to temper the sledging,” Healy recalled.

“I said I would, but you could imagine the response I received from the other Australian team members when I put forward the suggestion.

“To put it nicely, they told me the sledging would not stop.”

Healy said that Warne had such a destructive effect on batsmen that, from his position behind the stumps, he could see their demeanour change as soon as Warne came on to bowl.

Of the upcoming Ashes series, Healy believes the Australia team could win but said a drawn series was more likely.

That could change however if David Warner regained the outstanding form with the bat that he displayed last summer.

The next Sunshine Coast Kick-Off Club will be held on Thursday 8 June at Mooloolaba Surf Club.

Sydney Metro

By Brad Ryder, media officer Another sold out luncheon was held on Friday 24 March at Souths Juniors as our committee entered its seventh year of existence.

This one, suitably named the Brains Trust Luncheon, had a most interesting and entertaining line-up of guest speakers.

Compered by Steve Gillis, committee president Henry Morris welcomed the gathering, noting the presence of politicians Matt Thistlethwaite and Michael Daley, committee patrons Bob McCarthy and Keith McCraw, Men of League chairman Ron Coote and Immortals Andrew Johns and Graeme Langlands.

Our sympathies were read out to the audience of the tragic passing of Brett Kimmorley’s wife Sharnie, Tom Raudonikis’ son Simon (both after long illnesses) and Bondi United player Carl Remnant aged 26 following a work accident that week.

An excellent Paralympic video was shown called ‘Yes I Can’, followed by the first guest speaker, Paralympic Committee and Gold Coast Titans director Lynne Anderson (wife of legendary Canterbury winger Chris 60

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Anderson and daughter of the late Peter ‘Bullfrog’ Moore). Along with athlete Katie Kelly, they spoke of the determination and dedication of the athletes with their various physical disabilities.

Next to the stage was well known jockey Kerrin McEvoy, winner of the 2000 and 2016 Melbourne Cups (Brew and Almandin), 2011 Golden Slipper (Sepoy) and 2008 Caulfield Cup (All The Good).

An excellent two-course lunch was served which was followed by racing identities Ray Murrihy and Ron Dufficy walking on to the stage to the theme music of the Perry Mason television show.

They told funny stories and gave some racing tips for the next day’s race meetings.

Former NRL player and media personality Brett Finch was then interviewed by ‘Chimes’ Gillis.

He spoke of his career and the six different clubs he played with beginning in 1999 at Canberra culminating with a premiership with Melbourne Storm in 2013, and mentioned how he coped with his various health issues.

Brett then interviewed Souths coach Michael Maguire and former NRL player and coach Jason Taylor, both gave the audience their insights on today’s game.

The memorable day finished with Alby Talarico, whose media company Steele Sports calls the NSW State Cup games, doing a fine job as auctioneer of various items.

Toowoomba

By Andrew O’Brien, president The Toowoomba committee has been out looking at a number of wellbeing cases and submitting grants and we have had good response from all our recipients.

Our current cases see food vouchers and a Bariatric seat as well as a wheel walker for Trevor Sprott who has spent the good part of two years in hospital. The Foundation has been in touch with Trevor during this journey and he is now in transition to the outside world.

We have had wonderful help from our outgoing secretary Rick Laing during his short stint with the Toowoomba committee but unfortunately he has not been of good health and has stepped aside.

We thank Rick for his contribution. Lastly, we are in the process of helping Ritchie and Jeanie Phillips with ramps and handles after Ritchie’s major hip and leg operation.

Townsville

Tuggerah Lakes

By Barry Buchanan, publicity officer In the nine years Townsville Men of League has been operating never has there been a busier time than the month of April.

By Greg Tunn, publicity officer The Tuggerah Lakes Men of League held a successful and enjoyable bowls day on 7 April at the Canton Beach Sports Club.

It began with a Kick-Off Club at the Mercure Inn on 7 April, our NRL game day round the next day (Cowboys v Tigers), raffle night at the Cowboys Leagues Club on the 15th and finally the Bulls Masters Golf Day on 27 April. Obviously, this could not have occurred without the work of our hard-working committee led by president Mark Williams and secretary Terry Feeney.

The day was hosted by the Toukley Bowls Club and we’d like to thank Alan Coggan, Kim Newham and the many Toukley bowlers who participated on the day.

The success of these events was only made possible by the support of Ruth Prideaux at the Mercure Inn, Glen Cummings of Lion, the North Queensland Cowboys, Cowboys Leagues Club, Bulls Masters and our KickOff Club guest speakers John Skandalis and Todd Payten. ‘Skando’ was in Townsville with the West Tigers in his role with their NYC team and, of course, Todd is assistant coach with the Cowboys. The two Tigers legends were interviewed together and, as a trade-off, members were told to avoid asking about club politics at the Tigers in exchange for their not raising the 2005 grand final.

We had 70 bowlers and raised $1000.

Thanks also to Jay Mitchell, the manager of the Sports Club for his support.

Our next function is the State of Origin Kick-Off Club on Friday 16 June at the Lake Munmorah Bowling Club.

The night will commence at 5pm and will feature food, refreshments, raffles and the popular trivia questions.

For further information contact Rod Morton (0417 491 740 ) or Terry Wand (0438 5217 36).

During the football season, we will be raffling a large print of the 1963 Kangaroos touring team.

We are planning to sell tickets at some of the local games with the draw to be held at our golf day in October.

The next Kick-Off Club will be on Saturday 15 July at 4pm at Brothers Leagues Club, before the Intrust Super Cup clash between Townsville Blackhawks and Cairns Northern Pride. This is our Blackhawks Men of League match so come along and show support. The result could decide who wins the Foley Shield. Ex-Foley Shield players will be admitted free to the game.

Tweed District

If you are caring for someone from our rugby league community please contact us if we can assist but most importantly keep on caring.

By Tom Cassin, president A record field of 148 players attended our 13th annual golf day with John Feeney, from Queensland Tarps, the major shirt sponsor.

We are very appreciative of John’s sponsorship and hope that our association continues long term.

Winners on the day were Bernie Lowther, Tony Hawthorn, Andy Stocks and Laurie Anthony with a 63 translating into a nett 54.

Runners-up were the Continental Group of Dave Parks, Rob Richards, Allan Russell and Glen Partridge.

Third place went to the Mullumbimby boys of Con Theodesiou, Dan Woods, Mark Hartley and Rohan Johnston.

Kick-Off Club guest speakers Todd Payten (left) John Skandalis (right) with president Mark Williams and Mercure’s Ruth Prideaux.

Nearest the pins were won by G Smith, K Mount, P Woodward and A Bryant.

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Longest drive went to S Burrows with M Trevitt taking out the straightest drive.

Many thanks to our sponsors and prize donors.

Tallebudgera Supporters Club have been a sponsor at every golf day since our first in 2005 while Seagulls have been with us for 12 years, sponsoring two holes each year for the past two years.

Greenview Developments/See Civil have been with us for 11 years and Cudgen Leagues Club for nine.

We must also acknowledge the terrific contribution of Gary Stafford from Techrite Controls who, over the last few years, has badgered friends in to taking sponsorships and giving donations, totalling $1400 for this year’s event.

Thanks also to golf operations manager Matthew Hancock, Russ Davis and his staff and to our own volunteers for their great efforts throughout the day.

We are most grateful to all sponsors, donors and players for their continued support and participation.

Since our first golf day in 2005 we have raised over $100,000 for Men of League Foundation.

Victoria

By Peter Foreman, president At the time of writing, I’m pleased to say we are on track to deliver our target of raising $50,000 for the year.

Obviously the generous support that we receive from the Aces Sporting Club plays a big part of our revenue raising activities.

I am also pleased to welcome Phillippa Wade to our committee. Phillippa is the wife of Massey who is also a valued member of our committee.

They are both well-known within the local rugby league community and Phillippa’s appointment will further strengthen our team and enhance our ability to offer assistance to those that have fallen on hard times.

Western Sydney

By Garry O’Donnell, secretary Men of League Western Sydney committee ran a bowls day at Merrylands Bowling Club on 10 March.

It was a great day with over 75 bowlers taking part, including special guests Nathan Cayless, Stuart Raper, Luke Burt and John Peard.

Nathan, our MC for the day, interviewed Stuart Raper and Luke Burt on where they are now, family, footy and the future, plus our favourite comedian and friend, John Peard, entertained the crowd with his special humour.

One particular gentleman, Joe Tonna, saw the bowls day mentioned in the Daily Telegraph and travelled all the way from La Perouse just to get involved.

We raised approximately $7500 and would like to thank everyone who attended and donated generously.

Thanks to our special guests, our sponsors – Goldcrest Security, Coolibah Hotel Merrylands and our committee for their hard work.

Thanks also to Ray Gillard and Club Merrylands Bowling for their support.

This is supplemented by other activities such as the golf day and State of Origin double sales.

Two of our members, Harvey Price and Peter Taylor, will run a bowls day, hopefully in December at the Torquay Bowls Club – date to be confirmed.

The Men of League game day activation will be the Manly Sea Eagles clash at AAMI Park on the last weekend in July.

This event is our biggest of the year where we will conduct a tin shake outside the ground, conduct raffles in various corporate areas and have an on-ground interview.

We are also planning to conduct a Kick-Off Club event at Djangos Wine Bar.

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Eels legend Luke Burt (far left) with some of our generous sponsors.

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