Ron McAuliffe
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Ron McAuliffe OBE |
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|---|---|
| Senator for Queensland | |
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In office 1 July 1971 – 30 June 1981 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 June 1918 |
| Died | 16 August 1988 (aged 70) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
Ronald Edward McAuliffe OBE (25 June 1918 – 16 August 1988) was a politician and sports administrator in Queensland, Australia. He is best remembered for his years running the Queensland Rugby League, and his instrumental role in the formation of the State of Origin series.
McAuliffe attended school at St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace in Brisbane. In 1932 he played rugby league for the Gregory Terrace firsts. He started playing senior rugby league in 1937 for the Northern Suburbs club, but with the outbreak of World War II he joined the Australian Imperial Force. He served as a Warrant Officer for five years, before being honourably discharged after service in the Middle East and New Guinea with the 2/2 Casualty Clearing Station.
After the war McAuliffe worked with the Queensland Railways Audit Office. Whilst living at New Farm he formed social bonds with a number of Valleys players. In the late 1940s he moved to Fortitude Valley's Brunswick Street, sharing a flat Roy Westaway, a former international representative playing for the Diehards. According to Australian rugby league hall of fame inductee Duncan Hall, who was also playing for Valleys:
McAuliffe was elected to the Valley's committee and became the club's delegate to the Brisbane Rugby League in 1951. In 1952 he was elected chairman of the Brisbane Rugby League.
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