In 1962, I rang the then WARU secretary, the Late George Newstead M.B.E. and asked him for the nearest rugby club to my residence.
He suggested that Cottesloe was short on numbers, so I started training with the club – at that time on the Perth Esplanade. The Club was certainly short on players. I usually played Colts; “B” grade & then stood by as a reserve for “A” grade.
I soon became involved in the Club administration. I was the Club’s representative on the former State Council for a few years which in those days met every month at the WA Sports Council rooms in James Street Perth. In earlier years, the match of the round was always played on a Sunday at the
Perry Lakes grounds. With the park opposite it, from a Cottesloe point of view, it often took on a family picnic atmosphere before going over to the game.
At Cottesloe, I served on the Management Committee and as President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer.
During the years 1985 to 1987, I enjoyed coaching the Juniors and also refereeing them at Britannia Park.
I was on the State Executive for several years. At that time, JohnMcCulloch was the State Secretary. I was the State Treasurer for two years and served on the State Judiciary Committee for about 30 plus years.
I remember when WARU decided on two club divisions (1976?). Cottesloe ended up in the 2nd Division for a year before the competition changed back to one division. There was also a season whereby one (or two?) senior players were allowed to play in the Colt’s games in an attempt to try and promote Colt’s skills etc.
I became a Life Member of my Club in 1979 and a State Life Member in 1995.
I also attach a not very flattering photo of me in a line out (in the era when you weren’t allowed to lift!). This was on the back page of the West Australian in the days when the paper always published local rugby matters every week – especially weekends and in particular Monday mornings. The joke of the photo was that my then girlfriend (now my wife) vehemently denied to her parents that the ugly guy in the photo was her boyfriend.
