Our Culture

(Listed In year of Award)

Convener – Mr Peter Lawler OAM

1983 PJ Lawler OAM

1987 DB Lewis OAM

1995 DG Stafford OAM

1997 CTA Murphy PSM

2006 GJ Quinlivan

2008 PJ McCann

2014 BR Lenthall OAM

2015 RI Cordy OAM

2015 GA Larkham OAM

2018 RF Brady

2018 M Doogan

KC Waugh

DK Rogers

IR Alexander

1956 A Percival ISO

1956 JS Waters

1969 HS Quinn

1973 GD Vincent

1974 AD Duffy BEM

1975 J Hunter AM

1976 J D Donohoe

1977 AF Duffel

1978 WA Woodger OAM

1979 LM Davies AO; BEM; K St. J.

1979 AR Morton BEM

1981 GL Gordon OAM

1983 KE Hawke OAM

1984 CB Maxwell OAM

1986 PW O’Brien

1987 RW Smethills OAM

1995 RM Hitchcock OAM

1996 DJ Crossin AM, OBE

2004 LJ Rowland

2008 SG Madden

Peter Lawler was a Senior Referee for twenty one years. He was President of the ACTRRA 1972-3 was President of the ACTRU and voting Member of the ARU 1977-9. He has served on the ACTRU Judiciary since 2004. He was Executive Director of ACT Club Rugby in 1996.

For Super Rugby games in Canberra in the early years the ARU appointed him its Liaison Officer for the Judicial Panel and further appointed him as Official Time Keeper for the World Cup matches held in Canberra in 2003.

In 2008 the Brumbies established the Peter Lawler Trophy presented to the Best Referee in each year.

He is a Life Member and Patron of both the the ACTRRA and the ACTRU; was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2001.

David Lewis commenced his involvement in ACT Rugby with the Queanbeyan Rugby Club

In 1964. He held many Executive positions and was subsequently awarded Life Membership for his outstanding input to the Club’s affairs.

He was the Manager of many representative teams including the ACT Senior; ACT Under 19 and Under 21; Australian Emerging Wallabies; the Australian Institute of Sport Scholarship Holders and Training camps.

On the International front he was the ACT Delegate to the Asian and Pacific Rugby Congresses 1974 – 90 and a Member of the organising Committee in 1987.

He was President of the ACT&SNSW/Brumbies from 1996-99 and Chairman of the Board for three years. During that time he was a Member/delegate and Director of the ARU. In 1999 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

David Stafford played all his Rugby with the Canberra Royals Rugby Club including 87 First Grade games. He was an Under 16; Under 18 and Under 21 representative player and subsequently was a Coach, Selector and Manager of those teams. He also managed the Australian Under 17 team in 1987.

His many years of involvement with Junior Rugby included being a Member of the ACT JRU Council for forty years; Secretary for seven years and President for twenty four years.

On the national level he was the Foundation Director of the ARU Juniors Foundation; Secretary, ARU Under 16 national Championships in 1978 and its Chairman in 1986 and 1995. For three years he was a member of the ARU Youth Development Committee.

He is a Life Member of the AJRU; ACTRU; ACTJRU and Canberra Royals. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1997.

Charles Murphy played junior Rugby in Queanbeyan and at Canberra Grammar School. He was a foundation Member of the QRUFC including Vice-President and Committee Member.

In 1960 he attained a NSW Senior Referee badge and the ACTRRA Senior Badge in 1963. Apart from refereeing in the local competitions he was the Queanbeyan Club’s touch judge for many years.

His Rugby expertise was put to very good use as a long time Member of the ACT Appointments Board and the NSW Country Rugby Union Appointments Board together with 32 years on the ACT Judicial Committee.

Garry Quinlivan has been involved with Rugby for most of his life. When he first came to Canberra he joined the Western Districts Club and was involved with coaching some of its teams. He was manager of the ACT representative team in 1990 and when the Brumbies were set up he took on the role of Assistant Manager (on a voluntary basis) and, apart from one season has continued to date (2017).

Peter McCann was involved with the administration of Junior Rugby in the ACT spanning the years 1992-2011. His longer term appointments were as Secretary 1994- 2003 and President 2004 -2007.

He has been a continuing Member of the Senior Rugby Judicial Committee since 2007 and was awarded the Australian Sports medal in 2000

Bryan Lenthal played Junior and Senior Rugby in the Randwick District and for one year played with the NSW Police XV.

When he came to Canberra he joined the Northern Suburbs Club and during his four years there he played in their First Grade team which included being Captain of its 1972 Premiership team. He was also a member of the ACT Representative team in 1972.

For the next six years he coached teams from Daramalan, Eastern Suburbs and Dickson Old Boys.

For the years 1983-1991 he was Chairman of Selectors for the ACTU. The ARU appointed him as a Selector for the Emerging Wallabies in 1990-91 and later as an Independent Selector for the Australian Under 21 team.

The Cook Islands appointed him as its Technical Adviser for three years 2006-2009 and was its Special Projects Manager in 2014.

He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2016.

Dick Cordy has been involved in community Rugby in Canberra since the late 1970’s. He is a foundation member of the Tuggeranong Valley Rugby Union Football Club (Vikings) and has been awarded Life Membership of that club. He played more than 300 grade games for the Club. He also filled a number of committee positions during that time culminating in 4 years as President.

He joined the Board of the ACT&SNSWRU in 1999 and served on the Board until 2014, with his major focus being community Rugby. Dick is currently a member of the Community Rugby Committee that is responsible for the administration of Rugby within our region. He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000

Geoff Larkham commenced his Senior playing career in 1962 with the Lyneham Club playing 412 games with the combined Lyneham/Wests Clubs. He retired from playing at the age of 45 after winning 12 premierships in various grades.

Throughout that time he coached many Junior and Senior teams for his Club from under eights to Reserve grades. He also Presided over the Western District Licenced Club for ten years. He is also a Life Member of both the Senior and Junior Clubs.

Geoff became a Member of the Board of the ACT and Southern NSW Rugby Union and Brumbies in 1999 and was its President for 12 years. He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.

There is no record as to when Messrs. Waugh, Rogers and Alexander were elected as Life Members.

KC Waugh first held Office as Vice President in 1938 and last held Office as Vice President in 1948.

Don Rogers was Honorary Secretary 1938- 1942 and was President 1967-1953. He refereed school matches during several seasons.

Ian Alexander was Vice President in1938-42 and 1946-48. Following the transfer of the then President, Harry Giese to Darwin mid-year he took over that position for the remainder of the season.

(NB.The Union suspended Rugby from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II).

Arthur Percival was a Vice President 1940-55. He was appointed as Commonwealth Surveyor General in 1927. He was awarded the Imperial Service Order (ISO) in 1938.

Jack Waters an icon of ACT Rugby. Founder and first President and Coach of the Canberra Royals in 1949. He was ACTRU President in 1955-56. Vice President 1951,1952 and 1957. A Patron 1955-56. Coached ACT senior team in 1954. Was a Selector in 1954,1958 and 1966-68. or many years he was Editor of the Rugby News weekly. Coached the Far West Rugby team for its involvement in the NSW Country Week competitions for several years.

Joe Quinn was Senior Vice President 1961-1970. Patron 1996-1999. He was dedicated to establishing a viable Rugby program for teams located in the Monaro and country areas around the ACT. A perpetual trophy- the HS Quinn Trophy for Services to Rugby- was set up 1999 to acknowledge his contribution to Rugby.

George Vincent was a long time serving member of the local Norths Rugby Club and was instrumental in supporting the formation of the new Canberra Royals team using the North Club’s third grade team as the basis of the fledging Club. He was a Vice President 1946 -1957 and a Patron 1965-1994.

Tony Duffy was Honorary Secretary of the Union 1961-73 and Senior Vice President 1974-1979. He was the local ABC Rugby correspondent for 10 years and Radio Australia for several years. In addition he was the Manager of the ACT Representative team 1963 – 74. In 1984 he was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to Sport which included his heavy involvement with local cricket.

John Hunter was Treasurer 1964-67; President 1968-76 and a Patron 1977-89. In 1997 he was made a Member of The Order of Australia in 1997 and was also awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal.

John Donohoe was involved in the ACTRU for over forty years. He was a foundation member and first Secretary of the ACTRU in 1937 and was the original Secretary and Captain of the newly formed University Club. He refereed for a number of years and served on the Judiciary Committee continually for twenty-three years. Not only was he a Representative player he also had the honour of scoring the first try in the original local competition.

Artie Duffel was a long time Northern Suburbs Rugby stalwart. His involvement with the ACTRU included being a Selector for the years 1965 – 1975. In 1974 he was also Manager of the Senior representative team that undertook its first overseas trip to Tonga and was Manager for the 1975 season which included a trip to Queensland.

Bill Woodger over the years funded most of the costs of the ACT Representative team and set up a Trust Fund, the interest earned each year was donated to the Union.

Lionel Davies was a Vice President 1972- 78 and a Patron 1976and 1977. He was heavily involved in the St John Ambulance Australia service and for many years provided First Aid to injured players each week. He was made an Officer of The Order of Australia 2001; a British Empire Medal in 1971 and was made a Knight of The Order of St John of Jerusalem.

Peter Morton played over 200 games for the Queanbeyan Rugby Club and was an ACT Representative team member 1953-61. He was a Selector,strapper and/or trainer for ACT Senior, Schools and Australian Schoolboys for many years. He was awarded Life Membership of the Queanbeyan Rugby Club and the ACTRU as well as the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.

Graham Gordon was a stalwart of the Queanbeyan Rugby Club. He was a Vice-President of the ACTRU in 1975-79; President 1980-89 and a Patron 1990-92.

Colin Maxwell played 230 games for the Queanbeyan Rugby Club and was Club Captain for several years. He coached teams at the local Senior, Junior and Schools level was as a Selector for those teams. He was also a Selector and Coach of Australian under-age teams. He was made a Life Member of the Queanbeyan Rugby Club, the ACT Schools Union and the ACTRU. He was inducted into the ACT Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Bill O’Brien was a Vice President 1972-77 and a stalwart of the Northern Suburbs Rugby Club.

Bob Smethills was a Vice-President of the ACTRU for the period 1980- 97. He is the foundation President of the Western Districts Junior Club and has served the Senior Club as President and its Medical Officer.

His other Medical Officer roles included the ACTRU; ACT Schools (including four overseas tours) ; Australian Services (including three overseas tours) and the Australian Schools 1973 – 2004; ARU and ACTRU representative to the Asian and Pacific Congresses on four occasions.

In 1992 he donated to the ACTRU the R W Smethills trophy which is awarded to the Best Player in the John I Dent Grand Final each year.

He is Patron of the ACT Schools; Western Districts; Patron & Foundation President of the ACT Sports Medicine Foundation. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1994.

Bob Hitchcock played many games for the Queanbeyan RU Club and later coached the Club’s Junior team for six years and then went on to coach the Senior team for four years. He was also a Selector, Committee Member and Vice-President. He is a Life Member of the Club.

His extensive coaching career includes ACT Senior; ACT Under 21; AIS Scholarship Holders; ACT Coaching Director for four years; ARU Presidents; Australian Under 21; Australian Emerging Wallabies; Australian Women 1995-98( including the 1998 World Cup); Assistant Coach Women 2001-02 (including 2002 World Cup);Australian Women 7’s. He was awarded the ACT Coach of the Year on two occasions.

His other extensive involvement in Rugby, both international and local, saw him inducted into the ACT Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

David Crossin was a Vice President in 1957; President 1960-63 and a Patron 1967-81. He was the Chairman of the ACTRU Judiciary in the mid-1960s and unofficial Legal Adviser for many years. In earlier years he was Secretary, Treasurer and a Selector for the Queanbeyan Rugby Club.

Keith Hawke was an original player of the newly formed Royals Club and over many ensuing years served that Club as a player, Coach, Selector and set up many successful Junior teams. He was also an ACT Representative player and Coach, a New South Wales Representative player and toured Fiji with an Australian XV. His many awards are the Order of Australia and a Life Member of the ACTRU, the ACTJRU, Canberra Royals, the ACT Rugby Club and the now defunct Ainslie Rugby Club.

Lorna Rowland became the first lady Life Member in recognition of her sterling work under very trying conditions in the late 1970’s for the ACTRU and continued with the Brumbies from 1996 until 2002. For the first ten years she virtually ran all aspects the Union from setting up the season’s draw for all competitions; preparation of the weekly Rugby News and Annual Reports; compiling player statistics; and booking and banking.

Lorna served under four Presidents all of whom would acknowledge that she served the Union well and beyond the call of duty.

Shane Madden officiated as an ACT Rugby refereeing over 300 games for the years 1987 -2006 in the lower grades of the ACT senior competitions as well as Schoolboys, Juniors and Women’s competitions. He was a Level 1 certified referee coach with the ARU.

He was a Member and later Chairman of the ACTRU Judiciary 1987-2009 was Chairman of the Brumbies Disciplinary Committee from 1999-2009.