Preparations are going strong for the Mount Isa Foley Shield reunion in Townsville later this year
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Reunion organiser John Moran said the reunion would be a three day affair on September 20-22 and has now received sponsorship.
"The Queensland Country Credit Union have been of great help to us and have given us sponsorship money," Mr Moran said.
"With that money we are going to put on an anniversary dinner on the Friday night limited to 50 people."
Mr Moran expects around 30 people involved in Mount Isa's first Foley Shield win in 1969 will be there and they were still looking for any selectors, officials or managers involved for the 50th anniversary reunion.
"There is one player we cannot find, his name is Bruce Phillips, he was a winger for Mount Isa in 69 and he worked in one of the bank," he said.
"If anyone knows of his whereabouts, it would be lovely to find him."
Two others have passed away: Tom Tassell who died last month, and George Herwig who died a few years ago, and their wives will attend in their honour.
Saturday September 21 is the exact 50 year anniversary of Mount Isa's famous first win and the event will be for ex-Foley Shield players only who represented Mount Isa between 1966 and 1993.
"Those players played in the full time competition, around 200 to 300 players," Mr Moran said.
"The players are going to come and we'll have a day together, we'll have photographs of all the winning teams."
Mr Moran said it was not possible to have the event in Mount Isa.
"It's expensive to get to and most players live on the coast now," he said.
"They are coming from all over."
Mr Moran said the Foley Shield was still close to his heart.
"I was broadcasting all those years and that first win in 1969 meant so much for Mount Isa," he said. "You had to be there to witness it."
The Mighty Miners of Mount Isa defeated Townsville 12-9 in that first victory.
The win started a period of Mount Isa dominance with nine shields in the next 20 years (1969, 1972, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1988).
The full 1969 team was: Bruce Phillips (wing), Bruno Cullen (fullback), Mick Bakhash (wing), Gavin Shepherd (centre), George Herwig (centre), Bob Wilson (five-eighth, captain), Ken Mucken (halfback), Mel Brosnan (lock), Bill Bawden (second row), Bryan Woodcock (second row), Terry Hammond (front row), Les Smith (hooker), Tom Tassell (front row), Kev Weinert (reserve), Tiger Slater (reserve), Stan Suchowiecki (reserve), Col Wilson (reserve), Kev Duke (reserve).
According to the North West Star of July 22, 2010 the group met again in Brisbane for a 40-year reunion and only two players did not attend.
One was Bruce Phillips (then rumoured to be in Fiji) and the other was Bryan Woodcock, who has been located for the 50 year bash.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
