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Whistle Post
ISSUE
3
APRIL
2015
THIS ISSUE
Training schedule P.1
Uniform shop P.2
Around the Grounds P.3
The Jack Quinlan Story P.4
EVEN T S
Lecture Series 6:308:00pm
28.04.15
Lecture Series 6:308:00pm
26.05.15
T R AI NI N G
Training
05.05.15
6:30pm
Suburban Training
Beenleigh
6:30pm
11.05.15
Training
12.05.15
Hi All,
Welcome to April. Everyone is no doubt very busy on (and off) the
field with the regenerated A-Grade Competition in full swing, The Cyril
Connell and Mal Meninga Competitions winding down, Girls and
Women's competitions as well as the Nev Blair competitions kicking
off.
Before I continue, I mentioned in my last report that carnivals are
around the corner. Well the first ones are coming up shortly and I'm proud to announce that
the following Brisbane members have been selected to participate;
State Under 15 Schoolboys Carnival - Roma, QLD (7-10 May)
Isaac Freeman, Jay Hardie, Nik Inthout, Josh McDermott, Jorden Morel, James Downie
State Under 18 Schoolboys Carnival - Arana Hills, Brisbane (21-24 May)
Matt Colclough, Jorden Morel
6:30pm
Congratulations to all and no doubt you will seize this opportunity to hone your skills at a
top level under expert coaching and mentoring. Good Luck and enjoy.
Suburban Training
Wavell SHS 6:30pm
18.05.15
Training
19.05.15
Message from the President Marc Sauvage
6:30pm
Our Training in the 'Burbs series is rolling on with Zone 3 having theirs last Monday 13th
April and Zone 1 to have there turn tomorrow on Monday 20th at The Redcliffe Hockey
Centre.
These training sessions have had some mild success, but we need you all to
heavily promote these sessions to those referees who can't make O'Grady Park on
Tuesday nights. We have professional coaching accessible to ALL and we will continue
these sessions to ALL members. They are open to everyone. We will continue to have
Training in The 'Burbs throughout 2015.
Last weekend I had the opportunity to coach and mentor some of our up and coming
members who are making the transition from the modified game to international at the
GBJRL U/13 selection trials at Kitchener Park, Wynnum. This was a great weekend and all
of the boys made the transition seamlessly.
May I say how refreshing it is to coach a group of young referees who are keen and
enthusiastic and have real potential to move through the development pathway. Well done
to you all. Thanks to Paul Oliver for arranging the CMOS and appointments for the
weekend.
WHISTLE POST
CONTACT US
PH: 07 3392 7422
FAX: 07 3892 3939
EMAIL:
secretary@brlrefs.com
WEBSITE
www.brlrefs.com.au
POSTAL ADDRESS
PO Box 6261
Fairfield Gardens
QLD
4103
OFFICE &
TRAINING
Cnr Fairfield Rd &
Broughsm St
Farifield QLD
4103
ISSUE 3 APRIL 2015
Can I also offer my thanks to Juan Perez of Refcom for providing a loan set of
communication equipment. The guys got a real kick out this and it is a valuable coaching tool.
It will be not too long before the association has our own set to use. Thanks Juan.
Will see you out there!
Cheers
Secretary’s Report Scott Irvine
We are close to finalizing our membership for 2015 and we currently at
390 members, including 92 new referees to the association. Normally
we plan for an intake of 70, so we exceeded our target for the second
year in the row. It is also important to note that more than 95% of all
returning referees have attended the update. This year was the first
year where accreditation is depended on attending an update so this is
a great outcome to assure the standard of officiating is maintained.
In the next coming weeks, the various QRL representative appointments
will be announced which are seen as a first step in obtaining the higher
grade appointments that are offer by the leagues. Congratulations to all who may achieve
this, but to the ones to miss out please see this as an opportunity to try harder, attend training
and focus on the advice received from the coaches.
Officiating is a life experience.
If you have any memorabilia, annual reports and old jerseys please see me as I am collecting
this material for the benefit of the association. I am continuously updating the history as more
information comes to life and currently focused on collecting information about the Bulimba
Cup games in order to write another chapter to the association.
If there are any other topics that need to be "discovered" please let me know,
Portfolio Manager Chris Wilson
UNIFROM SHOP
Most of the referees are now fitted out with our new gear with only a few
referees left to be fitted out.
The Uniform Shop is
I must say we all look smart on field and our sponsors should be happy
open every Tuesday
with the coverage they are getting.
night between
Over the next few weeks we should be fully stocked again with on field
5:00pm-6:15pm.
gear and dress gear.
All purchases must be
made through Chris I would also like to thank my wife Helen for the wonderful job she did with the food for the
courses held at O’Grady Park.
Wilson and Peter
Gilson.
Product and price lists
available in the 2015
handbook.
Like us on Facebook for all the
latest BRLRA news!
WHISTLE
POST
WHISTLE
POST
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
PRESIDENT
Marc Sauvage
0419 280 881
SECRETARY
Scott Irvine
0430 425 569
TREASURER
Shaun MacDonald
0418 879 792
INTERNATIONAL
GAMES
REPRESENTITIVE
Des Gerhardt
0419 741 087
MODIFIED GAMES
REPRESENTITVE
Mark Farrow
0432 100 985
ISSUE
3 APRIL
20152015
ISSUE
3 APRIL
Modified Games Representative Mark Farrow
All Level One Face to Face have now been done, and as these new referees come on board,
they will need the support and encouragement from our senior referees. If you have a Sunday
game, it would be appreciated if you could arrive earlier to show them your support.
Thanks,
Mark Farrow
NRL Referee Development Paul Oliver
What’s available on www.playnrl.com.au Click on this link, which will
take you directly to the REFEREE RESOURCE CENTRE
Here you will find:
1. Access to download rulebooks, codes & policy.
2. Law quizzes.
3. Referee Development videos including visual explanation of skill drills.
4. Law explanations on obstruction and grounding of the ball.
5. Interviews with NRL Match Officials discussing, goal setting, injury management and
communication.
6. Explanation of decisions from NRL matches by Tony Archer.
There is much much more if you just take the time to click on the Referee Resource Centre
link above.
Around the Grounds
FACILITIES MANAGER
Chris Wilson
0412 301 461
SENIOR ALLOCATOR
Ian Blank
0499 780 881
GBJRL
INTERNATIONAL
Peter Hill
0407 765 672
COMPETITION!!
Upload your referee action shots to Facebook to be in the running
to win a fabulous prize!
Th
WHISTLE POST
ISSUE 3 APRIL 2015
The Jack Quinlan Story
DON’T FORGET
TO CHECK YOU
APPOINTMENTS !
Log onto
www.brlrefs.com.au
Please contact the
Secretary if you
don’t kow your log
in details.
Lauren Cassin
John Barron (Jack) Quinlan was born in November 1891 in the outskirts of Cairns. The keen
sportsman spent 3 years in military training with the Wide Bay Burnett Regiment before
following his family to Yeerongpilly in Brisbane. Jack found work with the railways as a
locomotive fireman and enjoyed boxing and playing football on weekends with his workmates.
Jack rejoined the military on August 2 1915, he was placed with the infantry of the 11th
Reinforcements 9th Battalion. In April 1916, Jack and his comrades boarded the HMAT Itonus
bound for France. The 9th Battalion were sent to the infamous battle at Pozieres on the
Somme, where they saw some of the most ferocious fighting of World War I.
Jack, who was one of 23, 000 Australian casualties, was seriously injured during the battle.
On July 23, he suffered wounds to both arms from German gunfire and was sent to France
for treatment before being transferred to England to recover. The injuries to Jack’s left elbow
failed to heal properly and over the next 3 months he developed several complications that
resulted in the amputation of his left arm.
Jack returned to Brisbane in May 1917
where he was awarded the British War
Medal and later the Victory Medal. He was
then discharged from active service in
August.
Jack contacted the Queensland Rugby
Football League in search of opportunities,
as employment prospects had been scarce.
Rugby League was the only football code
that did not go on a hiatus during the war.
Jack was offered the opportunity to referee, however he was warned his missing arm may
affect his rise to the senior ranks. Not one to back away from a challenge, Jack shocked
many people when he waltzed into Queensland Referees Association and asked to join.
By 1920, Jack regularly controlled lower grade and junior matches including finals. Jack put
his hand up to represent the Association when the Brisbane Rugby Football League was
founded in 1922. In 1927, Jack became the Brisbane Rugby League Referees Association’s
first BRL delegate. Ill health and his upcoming wedding to his sweetheart Vera forced him to
step down from this role in the same year.
Jack quickly realised the competition between referees was fierce. Many believed his
disability affected his refereeing capabilities, but he was determined to prove he was in the
same class as the great Reg Leighton, Jack Roche, Alf Matzdorf, Ernie Silverton and the
legendary Frank Moynihan.
Jack built on his natural strength and fitness by developing his own flowing style of whistle
and hand signaling skills, He had excellent rapport with players and officials alike and was
renowned for his on field talk.
WHISTLE POST
ISSUE 3 APRIL 2015
By the mid 1920s, Jack was one of the premiere first grade referees in Brisbane. Jack was
always concerned with the inconsistencies of rule interpretations, he worked tirelessly with
Frank Moynihan to establish acceptable standards across the board.
ATTENTION!
On Saturday 25th
April 2015, all
referees are
required to wear a
black armband as
a mark of respect
for our troops!
In 1925 the Bulimba Cup competition became a major inclusion in the Brisbane, Ipswich and
Toowoomba Leagues’ calendars. Great importance was placed on this competition due to
ongoing inter-league jealousies, the appointment of unbiased, quality referees became a
hottopic. Jack’s strong work ethic and his rapport with the players led to him being awarded
the first of many Bulimba Cup appointments. The Association didn’t make it easy for Jack,
handing him the whistle in a crunch match between Brisbane and Ipswich in front of a record
crowd of over 15, 000 fans at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds.
During the Brisbane game’s split in 1929 and 1930, Jack repaid the faith the Queensland
Rugby League showed in him by remaining loyal to their breakaway competition. He became
the QRL’s leading first grade referee. The 2 leagues reformed in 1930 and Jack played a role
in rejoining the referees whose loyalties had been split.
1930 was a stellar year for Jack. His ability to thrive in high pressure situations saw him
awarded the highest accolade of his career, the deciding match of an interstate fixture. The
match, held at Davies Park, was won by the southerners 15-12 in front of 5, 000 screaming
fans. Jack’s performance was near faultless.
Jack maintained his form for years to come, where he was finally awarded what he
considered the highest accolade of his career, a first grade grand final. The match, between
Wests and Past Grammars, was one of the toughest club games in years and Jack was
asked to make many tough calls. The red and blacks eventually won the hard fought match 87. Both sides boasted stellar line ups including Ack Jones, Tom Purtell and Henry Denny for
Wests, while Jack Stapleton and the St Ledger brothers took the field for Grammars.
The following year Jack officiated the premiership final.
Jack hung up his whistle in 1936 at the age of 44. His last game was the top of the table clash
between Wests and Valleys in July 1936 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. He announced his
retirement from all facets of the game, including coaching the next generation of whistle
blowers, in the week leading up to the game.
Jack donated a magnificent cup for the match, which ended in
a 7 all draw. At the completion of the game both sides
surrounded Jack and carried him from the field singing ‘For he’s
a jolly good fellow.’
Jack lived a quiet life after football, making appearances at
referees functions and presentations of the Quinlan Cup. He
joined the Australian Labor Party and narrowly missed earning a
position in the State Senate in 1949.
Jack passed away in December 1972 aged 81. He will always be remembered for his loyal
service to his country, his down to earth nature and his ability to rise above his own limitations
to achieve greatness,