xNovember 2014 y

Dan McErlean 12 Werona Street Sunnybank Qld 4109

Dear Old Boys

Our Pre-Christmas meeting will be held at ‘The Public Service Club’, Level 1 Function Room, 84 William Street (cnr Stephens Lane), on Friday21 st November 2014 from 12 noon through until about 2.00 pm; but feel free to drop in anytime from 11.00 am on, as your commitments dictate and join Old Boy mates in convivial fellowship.

If Old Boys are coming by train to the Central Railway Station, there is a free City Loop bus from Stop 8 opposite Central Station in Ann Street which allows you to alight at Stop 103 in the Government Precinct, just outside ‘The Public Service Club’ at 84 William Street.The bus services on this route are every 10-15 minutes.

As the 2014 Calendar Year draws to a close, Old Boys wish to pay a special tribute to the TBOBA President Joe Guerrini and his Executive, Peter Walters, Matthew Booth, Donald Stephens, Paul Canning, Greg Manthey and James Dixon who have so tirelessly committed considerable time driving fund raising for the redemption of our Loan on the Clive Berghofer Sports Complex. It would help the Committee greatly if Old Boys would please consider giving generously to the Brother Baptiste O’Sullivan School Building Fund to assist with the Debt Reduction Program on our Indoor Sports Complex. Donations, which are fully Tax Deductible will be receipted.

• Our Special Thanks are extended to Ronald John Smith (1939 – 1947) of Toowong and Trevor McGovern (Senior (1965) of Southport for taking up Life Memberships recently. • The St Mary’s College 116 th Prize Presentation Night was held in the Empire Theatre, , on Wednesday 5 th November 2014.

As November is the month of the ‘Holy Souls’ please remember our deceased Old Boys, Christian Brothers and Friends of the College. A number have passed away recently:

• Denis Patrick McGuin (1955 – 1963) • Bernard Hugh (Bernie) Reilly (husband of Jo) and cousin of DanReilly • Tad Wlodarczyk (101 years), father of Wieslaw (John) of Emerald (Vic), Jadzia, Barbara, Krystyna,Christopher (Tennyson) & Mariusz (Adelaide) • Johan Coulton , daughter of Bernie and Margaret Murphy

A number are also unwell or recovering from surgery including:

• Kevin, Doug and Tim Coonan, Justin Kingsford, Kevin Killoran, Tom Lincoln, Pat Seymour, John Keightley, Des Franklin, Colin Green, Bill Oliver, Joe Mulhall, Trevor Muller, Tom Hutchinson, Mrs Greg Dunne, Marie Keen and Annette Gilbert.

Please note that our first Brisbane meeting in 2015 will be on Friday 6th March.

Annual Membership Fee ($10.00) for Calendar Year 2015 is now due / or Life Memberships are available(Fee $100.00) * * * Cheques as donations towards the Indoor Sports Complex should be made payable to ‘Br. Baptiste O’Sullivan Building Fund ’. They are fully Tax Deductible and will be receipted.

Bryan McSweeney Dan McErlean Dan Reilly 1 President Secretary Co-Ordinator (07) 3278 9682 (07) 3345 4404 (07) 3395 1813

T.B.O.B.A. (Brisbane Sub-Branch) Meeting – 19/9/14

Present Apologies

Laurie Atzeni (Hon) John Hutchinson Fr Paul Chandler Dick Lynch John Bagget Doug Lee Fr Tyrone Deere Bernie Murphy Darryl Baker Jim Long Frank Adamson Robin Murphy Nev Card Mick Moloney Nat Chandler Terry Murphy Frank Deighton Pat Mullins John Coyer Rob McDonald John Drew Denis McClure Bernie Collins Justin McErlean Les Duncan Dan McErlean Noel Cronin Bryan McSweeney Merv Henson Peter McMahon Jack Davis (Hon) Lee Nightingale Peter Kennedy Graham Swenson Allan Duncan John Noonan Terry Gesch Kerry Taylor Brien Dunne Wayne Nuss Rolly Griffin Gerry Williams Graham Ehler John O’Neill Barry Gordon Des Franklin Jack Parker Tom Hutchinson Ron Smith Barry Kuhnemann Reg Taylor Fred Lincoln Glen Wiedman

‘Coming Events’

31/10/14 TBOBA Luncheon at Castlereagh Club – (Noon) Contact: Mick Quinlan (02) 9997 2397 21/11/14 Brisbane TBOBA Sub-Branch Pre-Christmas Break Up Meeting (11 am – 2 pm) 1st Floor Function Room, ‘The Public Service Club’ 84 William Street (cnr Stephens Lane) 12/12/14 TBOBA Sunshine Coast Luncheon at Headland Golf Club on Golf Links Road, (Noon) Buderim. Contacts: Bernie Murphy (5478 0742), Terry Murphy (5456 4340) and Redmond Byrne (5477 6705)

and Carl Betros on Saturday 18/10/2014 to give him A very successful Reunion was held by the 1958 Scholarship Class on the 13/9/2014. Those who answered the Roll Call that night were:

Michael Bou-Samra, Leigh Brady, Carl Betros, Greg Butler, John Cloake, Vern Donovan, Pat Drew, Gene Green, John Kelly, Bob Kretchman, Barry Lancaster, Phil Long, Peter Ludgate, Allan Roney, John Stephen, Pat Stringer and Colin Zeller (pictured right) and with partners on the school bus (pictured below).

Highlights were the tour of the College facilities, especially the restored Brothers’ House, led by guide, Paul Canning, and the hour floor show feedback on the event. entertainment provided by Col Zeller on drums and his musicians Des Patch, Ray Moore, Kerry Wright, Ron Smith and Bob Donovan during Dinner that evening at the Gladstone Hotel.

Patrick McErlean has had indifferent health recently and could not attend this Class Reunion, but was thrilled to have a visit from five former classmates – Colin Zeller, John Stephen, Gene Green, Phil Long

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outskirts of the growing provincial centre of • Tadeusz Czeslaw ‘Tad’ Wlodarczyk passed to Toowoomba. Amongst other jobs to make ends meet, Eternal Life on 16 th September 2014, aged 101 years. Pat’s father Edward was a Night Officer at the Born on 22/12/1912 in Poland he served in the Polish Harristown and Spring Bluff railway stations. Army’s 3 rd Carpathian Division under British command after escaping Poland with his wife and 3 The interwar years were tough times for the family as young children, following the German and Russian it was for many Australians. On their Harristown invasions. acreage they grew vegetables and grazed milking cows for their mother so that she could make butter that was given to the neighbours in order to share the load of poverty during this difficult period. Those early years of financial hardship and sacrifice instilled in him the virtues of family, hard work, sharing what you have and an appreciation of good fortune when it came his way.

Pat did his primary schooling at Newtown State School before his enrolment at St Mary’s Christian Brothers from 1934 to 1942. Having answered a calling Pat finished his senior schooling year at the Banyo Seminary and went on to spend a further 3 (L) Tadeusz Wlodarczyk in 1988 and years there before deciding that this wasn’t to be his (R) in 2012 aged 100 life’s vocation.

Impressed by troops he met while they Pat began his medical training at the University of in 1949, and received a Commonwealth served together as Rats of Tobruk, Tad set his mind to nd settling in and post war, he and his wife scholarship from 2 year. In order to help pay his Irena and five of their seven children migrated and board and keep, Pat worked as a bookie’s penciller on they settled in Toowoomba. He built a five bedroom the Brisbane tracks. This early interest in the world of white brick home in the early 1950’s. A bricklayer, racing and his sometimes successful ownership of plasterer and stonemason, Tad worked for local race horses was a passion, along with his love of the builders A H Hodge & Sons where he developed an land, which he shared with his brother Andrew. exceptional reputation for his tradesmanlike work on construction projects. After graduating in 1956 and following a period at the Mater Hospital he spent a 2 years from 1958 in St The family were foundation members of St Thomas George, as part of a general practice which were More’s Parish which opened in 1958 under Rev Fr happy times for Pat and the source of many Bill Hall , as Parish Priest. Their three sons John, reminiscences and teachable moments for his young Chris and Mariusz enrolled at St Mary’s College. charges over the coming years.

Tad was honoured with Good Wishes from the Queen, In June 1960 at a flash party hosted by the young the Governor General and the Prime Minister on his socialite Annette Hallet , Pat met the lovely and 100 th Birthday. He celebrated this Special milestone eligible Janet Cecilia Power , daughter of a well- with his family – 6 children, 14 grandchildren and 19 known Brisbane family. Such was their attraction for great grandchildren at home, enjoying Polish treats each other and his ‘need for speed’ that they were like Pierogi (dumplings filled with meat and potato) engaged within 3 weeks. and Golabki (minced meat wrapped in cabbage leaves). His wife, Irena, died in 1989 after 55 years of After a four month engagement they were married on marriage and their eldest daughter, Maria , passed 24 November 1960 at St Stephen’s Cathedral in the away in 2007. city. Following a brief honeymoon on the Sunshine Coast they boarded a ship for England to start their Tadeusz’s funeral was held on Friday 19/9/2014 after life together. a Requiem Mass celebrated by Rev Fr Hal Ranger at St Thomas More’s Catholic Church. He is survived by Wieslaw (John), Jadzia, Barbara, Krystyna, Christopher and Mariusz .

Vale Patrick Francis O’Dwyer (9/12/26-28/5/14)

• Life Member, Patrick Francis O’Dwyer was born on 9December 1926 in the Toowoomba General Hospital to Edward and Catherine O’Dwyer. Pat was the second child to older brother E’Brian and younger siblings Bernice, Colleen and Andrew. The family lived in humble circumstances in Harristown on the

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residence to enjoy his abundant cooking which was Pat commenced his surgical training with the Royal focused mostly on the sweeter things in life, such as College of Surgeons based in London in 1961. his famous scones, pancakes and signature apple pie. Despite difficulties common to a newly married couple in the foreign country away from the support In later life he was surrounded by a group of close of their families, they thrived in their new home and friends and his extended family. One of his favourite that year saw the birth of their first child, Philip . distractions was the First Friday Club, a dining group that scoured the eating houses of Brisbane looking for In January 1964 he returned a newly minted general the very best food at the lowest prices about which surgeon to . In May of that year their they could share scathing culinary reviews and the second child Louise was born. A year later in 1965 sorts of conversations that may have been repeated he joined the bayside Manly group practice and 100 times; but are rich with a depth of connection that moved into a tidy modest house in Lota on the cliff only long term friends really can fathom. above the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.Pat made many close friendships with his partners such as During a family dinner at Tattersall’s Club one year Frank Fry and his loyal support staff that endured a ago, Pat took the opportunity to provide his own 50 year span. During the joyful time on the Bay, eulogy. In his summation of his life he made it clear Anthony, Elizabeth, Robert and Patricia were born to all his family that the best decision that he ever which stretched the little house to breaking point. made was to marry his wife, their mother, grandmother to 20 and good friend to many, Janet . 1974 marked the move from the cosy bayside life to the relative fast lane of the newly developed Whites The past year had been a very difficult time for Pat, Hill in a fashionable house designed by Janet’s but this brought on the fighter in him and the best in cousin, architect John Walsh . One of the benefits of his friends such as Fr Watt, Peter Owen and John living on the Hill was the close proximity of the McCosker and the many others who gave of amply stocked bar belonging to friends and themselves beyond the point of all reasonableness. neighbours Mark and Aileen Heiser which got a thorough work out every Thursday night. Pat had much to say about life, he might have even asked each of us to reach out beyond where we are In 2000 Pat’s life long commitment to the Catholic comfortable to embrace the bountiful opportunity that Church was recognised with the awarding of a Papal life is, while keeping your feet firmly planted in the Knighthood. This honour was added to a list of warm bosom of your family. notable achievements throughout his medical career If Pat’s life could be captured in a few words, they which was marked by not only material reward; but would have to include hard work, family, community, also by the personal testament of the many people that contribution and commitment to faith and values. he had made a very profound difference to through the careful application of his diagnostic and surgical He was buried at the Nudgee Cemetery on 30/5/2014 skills, and as a person who deeply cared for others. following a Requiem Mass at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Pat was also a valued tutor to many of young medical Catholic Church, Coorparoo. Pat is survived by his minds at the as they wife Janet, Philip, Louise and Scott, Anthony and grappled with the intricacies of human anatomy and Catherine, Elizabeth and Anthony, Robert and surgical techniques. Tania, Patricia and Hugo , twenty grandchildren and Fr E’Brian, Bernice and Norman, Andrew and From time to time Pat probably left some of his Mary-Lou. His sister Colleen predeceased him. children wondering if they had achieved enough and made him proud. While he may not have heaped • Old Boy Dennis Healy (of Gladstone Hotel fame) and praise on his kids in front of them, we all knew that he his wife June(Henry) celebrated their Diamond could be a shameless skite who took every (60th) Anniversary in September. The couple were opportunity to tell his friends, colleagues and patients married at St Patrick’s Cathedral in 1954. Dennis and about his children’s many successes; but few of their June’s sons, Graham and Peter , are also Old Boys. failings. Graham is a veteran radio broadcaster with 4GR and a former State Member of Parliament. At the age of 77 in 2003, Pat retired from his busy medical practice at the urging of his erstwhile advisor, Peter is a former Queensland Janet, who counselled that it was best to get out while representative, First Fifteen coach he was still on top. Having received such a rare, and Risdon Cup Rugby premiership winner. unsolicited and fulsome compliment he took the sage advice on board and began his second career as a Dennis was a member of the 1957 All Whites ‘A’ painter, bridge player and grandfather extraordinaire. grade side which included a number of Old Boys like Ian ‘Ripper’ Doyle, Kevin From the seed of their six children a tribe of 20 Boshammer, Colin Howe, Kev Leadbetter and grandchildren has sprung. This large family bolstered John O’Neill. by the additions of sons and daughters in law was to be the source of great happiness for Pat with regular gatherings at their Indus St and then Otway St

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Emerald, , Kingaroy and (PNG) to • Congratulations as well to Dr John Frawley AM and be treated to some quality football. his wife Elizabeth who celebrated their Golden Peter and his QRL Committee also proposes the return Wedding Anniversary with family and friends in of the Brisbane ‘A’ grade Rugby League format in October. The couple were married in St Patrick’s 2015 which will see the return of proud Brisbane Cathedral, Toowoomba. Dr John’s Australia Day Rugby League Clubs such as Brothers and Fortitude Award was announced in 2006 ‘For service to Valley. medicine in the fields of vascular and transplantation surgery and as a pioneer in paediatric kidney A former Ipswich referee and State of Origin official, transplants’ . He was a member of the College Senior Peter has served on the Board of the Australian Rugby Class in 1956 along with Dr Colin Owen AO, Terry League. He replaced former International Rugby Murphy and Graham Sweeney. League player, J ohn McDonald, who was QRL

• John and Daphne (Martin) Quinn celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 11 July 2014 and received a Special Blessing from Fr James O’Donoghue, the Jubilee Parish associate pastor. John is the elder brother of the late Terry Quinn a Thallon Medal winner while at the College. Daphne’s brother, Brian , was a member of the 1948 Junior Class.

• We would like to share with Old Boys the Special Thank You card received from Jane and Tony Gollan following congratulations and best wishes extended to the couple by our Association when they married in May. Chairman for 20 yrs.

• On an historic night at the Sydney’s Star City Casino, and his nemises, , were co-winners of the Dally M Medal – the first time two men have shared the Award in its 34 year history.

Thurston (31 votes) led Hayne (30) entering Round 26 and appeared to hang on when he secured a further point in his side’s 30 v 16 defeat of the Manly Sea Eagles. Then Hayne sensationally drew level with a two point vote in that Round despite his Parramatta side being beaten 33 v 20 by Canberra to crash out of the finals.

For Johnathan the Cowboys’ co-captain, it was his third Dally M Medal, a remarkable performance of • Old Boy, Joe O’Neill, Manager of ‘Prime over nearly a decade. He won his first gong in 2005 Thoroughbreds’ has a busy period during the October and his second in 2007. In 2013 Johnathan had triple and November Spring Racing Carnivals in Sydney dead-heated for second place in the . and Melbourne; but was pleased with the success of Johnathan also claimed five-eight of the year honours ‘Hijack Hussey’ at the Gold Coast meeting on and was the NRL leading point scorer in 2014. 4/10/2014. It was the second win for the 3 year old filly from 6 starts. By ‘Hussonet USA’ from ‘Joy Former Eels and Australian half back legend, Peter Ride’ she is trained by Tony Gollan . Sterling, who claimed back to back Dally M Awards in 1986 and 1987 lauded Thurston among the greatest • Congratulations to Old Boy, Peter Betros , who just playmakers he had seen. ‘It’s everything, it’s his completed his second year as Queensland Rugby vision, his effort, his toughness, he is the whole League Chairman. He has overseen the inclusion of package’. the PNG Hunters side in the Intrust Super Cup competition this year and has plans to introduce On Friday 20September, Johnathan Thurston another new Club – The Blackhawks in produced one of his finest performances to almost 2015. Another well received promotion in 2014 was single-handedly haul the Cowboys back in the the ‘Get in the Game Country Week’ which enabled Qualifying Final against the Roosters, after trailing 30 Rugby League fans in Longreach, , v 12 at half time, to go down 31 v 30. Johnathan contributed 1 try and 5 goals in this match.

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• On 20 September 2014, (Year 12 – • 18 year old Matthew Kuhnemann has just completed 2008), came off the bench for the Cowboys in their a tour of Sri Lanka with the Australian Under 19 NRL Qualifying Final against the Roosters when they Cricket Team as a spin bowler. He is the son of Paul trailed 30 - Nil on the and Tamara and grandson of Barry and Margaret scoreboard after 30 (Peut). minutes. Ethan’s alert reflexes saw him cross • Old Boys have expressed their interest in learning for his sides first try and details of the Warwick Rugby League Team of the this significantly Century announced at that Leagues Centenary Dinner energised the Cowboys, in St Mary’s Hall, Warwick on the 17 th May 2014 and wonderfully led by our Thanks go to Jack Parker from the (1948-1957) Johnathan Thurston to Class for providing the following information. make a second half recovery, but they failed There had been 19 Clubs in the Warwick area in the to win the semi-final past 100 years, including outlying clubs like match by one point Tannymorel, Emu Vale, Swan Creek and Freestone. (31 v 30). The first team began as the First World War was starting and by the 1960s, the competition was rated Ethan has played 55 games over the last few years the second best in the nation. The mid-1980s was with the ‘Northern Pride’ team in the another golden era for the Warwick Rugby League Rugby League competition. He was when it was admitted into the Toowoomba Rugby a front row prop in the 2014 Premiership decider at League competition. (Suncorp Stadium) on Sunday 28 September when his side successfully beat the The Selection process for the Warwick Rugby League Brisbane Easts Tigers 36 v 4 to take out the Intrust team of the Century began when 250 potential names Super Cup. This gave the ‘Northern Pride’ the right to were put forward and 43 nominations were then play their NSW counterparts, Penrith, in the inaugural selected by the Organising Committee. These 43 National Championship final as the main curtain players or their family representatives were invited to raiser to the NRL Grand Final on Sunday 5 October. the celebratory dinner by Organiser, Glen Whitton , where the top 13 players and 7 reserves were Again in this match when the ‘Northern Pride’ team announced. The Team was Wayne Bennett, Paul was being headed on the scoreboard, the turning point Coote, Simon Scanlan, Grant Rix, Trevor in the game came with Ethan Lowe’s superb offload McDonald, Cyril Connell, Billy Thompson, Mick close to the line, allowing his winger to score and this Madsen, Dan Dempsey, Rohan Hancock, Ray gave the ‘Northern Pride’ side the momentum to score Higgs, Sid Jones, Joe Baker, Colin Thompson, Don the final three tries and a 32 v 28 victory in front of a Meehan, Eddie Bronson, Mal Muirhead, Brian crowd of 83,833 at the Sydney ANZ Stadium. Ethan Blowes, Michael Coorey and Peter Eastwell. says ‘winning two grand finals in two weeks is pretty special’. Lawn Bowls Day 12/10/14

• Included in the training and • The second match in our annual Old Boys’ Inter-City run on squad for most of the season was another Old series for the ‘Kevin Lee Memorial Shield’ was held Boy, Ben Lowe (Year 12 – 2002) and brother of on Sunday 12 October 2014 at the North Toowoomba former Storm prop, Jaiman (Year 12 - 2000). Ben has Lawn Bowls Club.Our special thanks go to the been on the radar of Queensland Origin selectors for a th organisers of these events held for the past twelve couple of years now and was named as 18 man for years between Toowoomba and Brisbane Old Boys in the Rabbitohs team win on 26/9/14 over the Roosters a truly College sporting spirit. Particular credit must (32 v 22). go to Eric Howe, John Wilson, Laurie Blacka, Terry Gesch and to the Bowls Clubs for catering for our • James Pierson , grandson of Jim Long , has a events. Also we thank our sponsors in Brisbane, Holy Queensland ‘Bulls’ Cricket Team contract for the Cross Funerals and in Toowoomba, Heritage Funerals 2014/2015 season and was selected in the Queensland and Carlton United. Those participating in this event side that played an Australia side in a 45 over Practice include: Match on the Allan Border Field on Tuesday 20/8/2014. Dave Warner and Phil Hughes were S Barnes C Barrett W Blacka L Blinco B Collins T Connolly E Dilleen J Fitzgerald included in the Queensland side and James opened L Fitzgerald T Gesch E Howe R Jendra with Warner, but after 6 overs sighting ‘quicks’ (Bob) Jones G Kelly C King D Madden Johnson and Starc he snicked one to be caught by B Marks Jack McErlean Justin McErlean L Mitchell Michael Clarke off Mitchell Johnson. James had a Mrs L Mulhall Reg Murphy M Otto A Ogilvie better sighting of the Australian attack when called L Reis G Robertson D Schultz A Thomas K Walker J Wilson upon to deputize for Brad Haddin, for a few overs, while Brad was off the field for a time.

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Best on the day were: Queensland Country Rugby Union was re-established in 1965 and from 1978 Brisbane Clubs competed Bob Jones L Blinco D Schultz C Barrett against regional Queensland sides, including Gold

T Connolly L Reis A Thomas C King Coast, Darling Downs and for the XXXX Cup. From 1983 to 1987 the Cup took a new On the bell, Toowoomba led Brisbane by 4 shots – 66 format with four regional teams – Brisbane, South v 62; but had been 18 shots behind on the Stafford Queensland, and Central match on 6/4/14, so Brisbane won the two match Queensland competing for it. series this year. The competition continued to evolve and in 1988 Brisbane and Queensland Country representative sides competed directly for the Cup for the first time, with Country winning 20 v 17 at Ballymore. This format continued for a further 7 years with XXXX Cup challenges between these sides including the 1989 match as a curtain raiser before the British and Irish Lions Test at Ballymore. The Cup challenges ceased following the advent of professional Rugby in 1996.

On 28/9/2014 the teams while competing for NRC competition points also contested the Andy Purcell Cup, a trophy with a fine history back to 1978 and formerly known as the XXXX Cup, which has been resurrected by .

The Andy Purcell Cup was named after a late QRU Life Member who graced the game with more than 50 Left to Right (above) : years of service – first as a player, then a referee, a Doug Lee hands on the ‘Kevin Lee Memorial coach and also as an administrator. Shield’ to Terry Gesch QRU Chairman, Rod McCall, said, ‘The trophy was a Left to Right (below) : fitting tribute to Purcell who passed away on Dinny Madden and Reg Murphy reflect on their form. 15/10/13. Andy is a great example of somebody whose Rugby relationships overlapped the Country and City environments and he would have been a big fan of this NRC competition and the wider philosophy underpinning it.’ He was influential in Darling Downs Rugby and played a major role in establishing Queensland Country Rugby Union.

Brisbane City overcame Queensland Country on the day and were presented with the Purcell Cup by Mrs Barbara Purcell, widow of Andrew, after the match and before, following tradition, spectators were allowed on the hallowed turf.

The newly named Andy Purcell Cup will be contested annually by the Queensland Rugby Union unveils Brisbane City and The Andy Purcell Cup for historic NRC clash Queensland Country in the National Rugby • Two of the Rugby Union teams competing in Championship, adding Buildcorp National Rugby Championship met at the extra meaning to every Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, on Sunday 28 th fixture between these September 2014. Queensland Country was sponsored historic sides. by and Brisbane City by McInnes Wilson, Lawyers. They were playing each other for the first time in the NRC; but it reignited more than 100 years of rivalry back to 1902 when a Queensland Country representative team was narrowly beaten by Brisbane 16 v 15 at a QRU Country Week carnival.

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Pictured below is Barbara awarding the cup to As well as Andrew Purcell, a number of Old Boys Brisbane City Captain, David McDuling. became well-known Queensland Rugby players: John O’Neill, Paul Costello, Bob Potter, Tom O’Brien and Ron Shelvey.

Many of the household names of Australian Rugby such as , , , and have worn the Brisbane City jersey.

Queensland Country Rugby has produced some of the most well-known names in Queensland Rugby, including Sam Scott-Young (Townsville), (Darling Downs), Jason Little (Darling Downs), Garrick Morgan (Darling Downs) and Peter Grigg (Townsville).

• Francie and Graham Swenson headed west to Perth in October to visit their son and daughter-in-law.

• Les Duncan had a busy time during August and September, firstly making a 5/6 day trip on the refurbished ‘Spirit of Queensland’ to Townsville to assist son Noel with some work on his swimming pool. Then he flew with the family to Perth for the wedding of son Bevan and his bride Bridgette . The newlyweds later made a visit to Toorbul on their ABOUT ANDY PURCELL honeymoon to enjoy further celebrations with the extended Duncan families. Andy Purcell first played Rugby at St. • John and Annette Drew recently welcomed the Mary’s College in arrival of a new grandson, Thomas Damien , born in Toowoomba between the Mater Hospital, Brisbane to daughter Elizabeth 1944 and 1946 and and son-in-law Luke Miers of Fairfield. when he moved to Brisbane to study • Celebrating their Birthdays in November are former Dentistry, he played classmates Bryan Lynch (Runaway Bay) and Dan for University of Reilly (Carindale). Queensland.It was during his time with • Fr Kerry Costigan extends his appreciation to his UQ that he earned four former classmates and other Old Boys who made the caps for Queensland. trip out to Oakey on Sunday 26 th October 2014 to join with him in the Celebration of the Golden Jubilee of his Priestly Ministry. His small book ‘Make Us He finished his playing career on the Darling Downs Count’ , is a brief story of personal reminiscences of playing for Millmerran. Then he shifted his focus to his life and costs $20. It was launched on the day by refereeing in the Darling Downs competition from the Regional Mayor, Paul Antonio. 1963 to 1969 and was also instrumental in the establishment of the Toowoomba Rangers Rugby Club. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to In 1971, Andy was chosen to be a Queensland Old Boys and their families Country selector. He went on to coach the representative side from 1974 to 1975. He had coached Darling Downs for a season in 1972.

He was elected a Life Member of Queensland Rugby Union in 1986.While serving as Vice-President of Queensland Rugby, Andy was also President of the Queensland Country Rugby Union in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He retired from the role of Queensland Rugby Union Vice-President in 2006.

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