Post by England 3 Lions on Dec 25, 2008 15:13:49 GMT 10
League celebrated in stone
Craig Ross
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
© The Cairns Post
RUGBY league's rich history in Cairns was yesterday acknowledged with the unveiling of two commemorative plaques in the city.
The plaques, commissioned by the NRL to mark the code’s 100th anniversary in Australia, were unveiled at Parramatta Park and Munro Martin Park.
Cairns Show Association president Ian Allen and life member Clive Gordon performed the first unveiling at the Parramatta Park showgrounds which served as the home of rugby league in Cairns from 1927 to 1988.
The showgrounds hosted inter-city, inter-district and international fixtures until 1988 when Barlow Park succeeded it as the city’s venue for major rugby league matches.
Etched onto the plaque is the result of the first match featuring an international team to be played at Parramatta Park, when the English Lions, captained by Jim Sullivan, beat Far North Queensland 53-8 in 1932.
Cairns Regional Council Deputy Mayor Margaret Cochrane performed the official duties at Munro Martin Park where the city’s first rugby league match between Cairns and Innisfail was played on June 29, 1918. Cairns won the clash 21-0.
Formerly known as Norman Park, the venue hosted major matches including encounters between Queensland and North Queensland (1924), as well as Brisbane and Cairns (1925) until 1927.
Cairns and District Rugby League secretary Pat Bailey said the code had retained its strong working class affiliation throughout its history in Cairns and was excited at the game’s prospects for the future.
"Rugby league is just going from strength to strength in Cairns, Innisfail and Eacham," she said.
Source: The Cairns Post
Craig Ross
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
© The Cairns Post
RUGBY league's rich history in Cairns was yesterday acknowledged with the unveiling of two commemorative plaques in the city.
The plaques, commissioned by the NRL to mark the code’s 100th anniversary in Australia, were unveiled at Parramatta Park and Munro Martin Park.
Cairns Show Association president Ian Allen and life member Clive Gordon performed the first unveiling at the Parramatta Park showgrounds which served as the home of rugby league in Cairns from 1927 to 1988.
The showgrounds hosted inter-city, inter-district and international fixtures until 1988 when Barlow Park succeeded it as the city’s venue for major rugby league matches.
Etched onto the plaque is the result of the first match featuring an international team to be played at Parramatta Park, when the English Lions, captained by Jim Sullivan, beat Far North Queensland 53-8 in 1932.
Cairns Regional Council Deputy Mayor Margaret Cochrane performed the official duties at Munro Martin Park where the city’s first rugby league match between Cairns and Innisfail was played on June 29, 1918. Cairns won the clash 21-0.
Formerly known as Norman Park, the venue hosted major matches including encounters between Queensland and North Queensland (1924), as well as Brisbane and Cairns (1925) until 1927.
Cairns and District Rugby League secretary Pat Bailey said the code had retained its strong working class affiliation throughout its history in Cairns and was excited at the game’s prospects for the future.
"Rugby league is just going from strength to strength in Cairns, Innisfail and Eacham," she said.
Source: The Cairns Post