LIFE MEMBERS

1927 Joe Roche
1927 saw the Club elect its first life member. “That undoubted honour fell to Joe Roche, on the motion of Maurice Sheehan, seconded by Herb Grace. Both persons speaking to the motion paid tribute to the great services rendered by Joe over the years. The motion was passed unanimously with acclamation. Joe was widely respected as a footballer and earned the title of ‘uncrowned All Black’”.

1935 H F (Herb) Grace
“In 1935 H F (Herb) Grace was elected life member for ‘his outstanding and unselfish services in the interest of the club since its inception’. As coach, tactician, adviser and administrator he was rightly regarded without peer in the Club.  In many years of active association with the Club, he filled practically every major official position. A man who spurned the limelight for personal gratification, he undertook these various activities solely for the purposes of furthering the aims of the Club and the game to which he was so attached and helping in a tangible way, his beloved way, the Marist Brothers. No more fitting and deserving subject has ever had the high honour of life membership conferred on him. It was typical of the man that his active interest in the Club’s affairs was continued for many years subsequent to his being made a life member”.

1952 Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay was accorded the gratitude of his peers with the award of life membership in 1952. Of Gordon it was said, “ he stepped down from Club Captaincy at the end of 1951, ending a long association with that office which he first held as far back as 1941-42 and then from 1945 until 1951. He was to return to the position for short spell in 1959. The Club Captain (quoted in the Jubilee book) more than any other single official,l can make or break a club and it is to Gordon’s everlasting credit that that the Club prospered under his terms in that executive position.  Sorting out teams is only one aspect of the onerous duties involved if the Club Captain’s role is to be properly maintained; and that task alone involves many hours of effort, including an almost regular Friday night ‘milk run’ to round up reticent players for the Saturday and so ensure the good name of the Club was not tarnished by teams taking the field with less than 15 players or worse still, defaulting. The successful Club captain must be a mentor, psychologist and psychiatrist, an expert conciliator and arbitrator, a physician, masseur, coach and ‘Aunt Sally’ as well as a human being. Not all Clubs possessed such a person but Gordon epitomised all those attributes in high degree and used them to good effect in the way in which he surmounted difficulties, promoted good will and advanced the cause of the Marist Club. He made his talents available in other executive capacities in the following years, the honour bestowed being most appropriate”

Jack McRae
Information being sought…

1966 Pat Grace and Les Ward
“In 1966 Pat Grace and Les Ward had their long and valuable services to the Club recognised by being elected life members. Pat had served three separate terms as President, had carried his playing career with the Club right through from the 4th grade to New Zealand representation and given 30 years to the Club.

Les had been with the Club from the very inception of the scheme for building the present clubrooms (the present day back portion) and had taken a prominent part in bringing that scheme to fruition, especially in regard to finance. His outstanding services as player, coach, committee member and President over many years qualified him in full measure for the honour bestowed “.

1973 Joe Hanning
“Joe Hanning, a stalwart of the Club, was accorded the honour in 1973 of life membership. A long term committee member and former President, Joe was a tireless worker for the Club and was largely in charge of the bar area and general caretaker for many years. A member of the original building committee, on which he played a substantial part, Joe always ensured the Clubrooms were spic and span, carried out many of the running repairs that were required and organised the refreshments. He was always an integral member of the committee”.

1979 Fred Ward
“In a fitting tribute to almost a lifetime of service of service to the Club, Fred Ward was made a life member in 1979. Fred’s days with the Club date back to pre-World War 2 days and he was part of the great Marist teams of the 40’s and 50’s, as well as playing for Southland in 1948 and 1955. As an administrator, Fred was a loyal servant of the Club, filling in a variety of roles including that of President. Marist was well represented on the SRFU Management Committee with Fred, a long term member, filling the role of Treasurer for many years as well as attending the NZRFU AGM as Southland delegate.

1994 Paul Wilkins
“In recognition of many years of dedicated service to the club, Paul Wilkins was elected the Club’s ninth life member in 1994. Paul’s involvement extends back for 29 years to when he first played in the 3rd grade team of 1966, a playing career continued with some years off, until 1991. While primarily a halfback, Paul filled many backline positions but displayed his versatility when also seen playing as flanker and in the front row. His involvement with the administration of the Club began in 1968 as a committeeman and included a wide range of coaching positions including Club Captain and President. Other roles included manager of Easter Tournament teams, organiser of the very successful touch 7’s and triathlon and as the Club’s delegate on the Metropolitan Sub-union. Additionally Paul always carried out his fair share of general maintenance and bar duties for the Club”.

Information to come:

Mick Rooney

Jeff Murdoch

1995 Gerry McSoirley

Stewart Perkins

Peter McNamara

John Crowe

Graham Latta