Chris Trevor (Flynn, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Had I known that I was going to live this long, I would have looked after myself a bit better, I am sure. But, as a former Rugby League player of many years standing, who played his juniors with the Gladstone Wallabies and his seniors with the Gladstone Brothers and never took a backward step, I am proud to have played the game, and I continue to be involved in it—as in moving this motion before the House. During my playing days, I suffered many broken bones, cuts, strains and sprains, but I would not trade those days for the world. My only regret was that, at 40, I was too old to play the game. I have been luckier than most, having had the great privilege in my senior playing years to be captain-coached by Rugby League greats Chris ‘Choppy’ Close and Phil Daly, who were both State of Origin football stars and Australian representatives. I was proud to take the ball up alongside them and for them. I was also lucky enough to play a game against the Brisbane Brothers late in my career, although the internal bleeding I suffered for three days after that match was a reminder to me that it is very much a young man’s sport.

I pay tribute today to all of those who have played and who continue to play junior and senior Rugby League throughout my electorate of Flynn and Australia generally. I congratulate the Australian Rugby League and National Rugby League for their ongoing support to Rugby League in Australia, including country rugby league in Flynn and other communities. I pay tribute to the late Dick ‘Tosser’ Turner, whose memorial service was held in Brisbane today. I congratulate all, including supporters, officials, parents and volunteers of Rugby League throughout Australia. I also thank the referees. I sponsor them in my home town of Gladstone and I also sponsor Rugby League teams in Gladstone and Biloela. Some of the most talented players I ever played against were Indigenous, including those in the Woorabinda Warriors in my electorate. I make special mention of them today.

Some of my most loyal and trusted friends to this day come from my days of playing Rugby League. I thank them for being part of my life, both on and off of the field. I have met some great blokes through Rugby League, but there are far too many of them to mention here. I continue to meet great people, both men and women, associated with the great Rugby League game in Flynn. I thank all the NRL players, past and present, who give so much of their time to charity. I am inspired by all of them. All too often we hear of the bad news but not the good news about past and present Rugby League players. Only a week ago at my home in Gladstone I entertained a number of ex-NRL players, including Ryan Girdler, Ben Kennedy, Mark Hughes and Adam Muir. They had come to Gladstone to support a great charity event organised by my great friend Russell Thomas, who walked with me from Gladstone to Brisbane in 2005 to raise money for the charity and emergency services personnel I was involved with in Gladstone. I thank referee Bill Harrigan for coming to the event.

I also especially thank my good friend Chris ‘Choppy’ Close for his donation of State of Origin jerseys each year for me to donate to worthy charitable causes. Chris, you are a legend and a loyal and trusted friend, mate, and I thank you in every sense of the word. I thank the Queensland State of Origin players for signing the jerseys for me each year. I acknowledge and pay tribute today to Paul and Betty Smith from the Gladstone Brothers and also to Peter White from Gladstone, for their contributions to the Rugby League game in Gladstone. Finally, I thank Rugby League for the best years of my life. I am proud and I always will be proud to be associated with the greatest game of all. (Time expired)

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