Michelle McDonald caught up with all of he excitement of the big reunion dinner and prepared thisspecial report.
Easts Tigers commemorated its 75th anniversary in style on Sunday June 8, announcing the Top 25 All Time Tiger greats during an elegant evening gathering at the club’s Atkin Auditorium.
More than two hundred people from throughout Australia celebrated the festivities and Easts’ convincing 26-10 win over Burleigh earlier that day.
“The night was a great success with the only problem being that five hours was nowhere near enough time to catch up with all the wonderful characters who came from as far afield as Thursday Island and Melbourne for the event,” said club president and Top 25 Tiger inductee, Graham Andersen. “The Leagues Club staff outdid themselves to make it a special night, and so it proved.”
Former deputy Premier and Treasurer of Queensland, Terry Mackenroth, presented plaques to the Top 25 All Time Tigers, comprising players, officials, administrators and volunteers from the club’s inception to the present.
Inductees include current A-Grade captain, Scott Sipple; Easts Leagues Club founder, Jack Atkin; the club’s most capped test player, Rod Morris; administrator, Taffy Welch; volunteer, Hec McInnes; former Queensland Rugby League and Easts’ chair, Tom Drysdale; and, current chief executive officer, Des Morris.
“It was a great honour to be named in the Top 25 Tigers of All Time,” said Mr Morris. “I am sure that it must have been hard to come up with the twenty five as there were many others who have contributed greatly to our great club.”
Former Easts hooker and coach and original State of Origin player, John Lang, spoke eloquently on behalf of the inductees.
After the announcement of the Top 25 All Time Tigers, Easts’ night of nights continued with a nostalgic panel discussion; comedian, Danny McMaster’s, hilarious antics; and, the auctioning of a framed heritage jersey which was sold to past player, Pat Cowell, for $2050.
Delicious fare, including duck risotto, rib fillet with parmesan rosti, mouth-watering cheeses and fruit and a selection of Hardy’s wines, was relished by all.
Catching up with long-standing friends was the true highlight of the evening. The formal setting buzzed warmly as old mates from afar and several Tigers’ generations reminisced proudly about the club’s impressive and colourful history.
“On a night when there were plenty of highlights, I found it really enjoyable to talk to people from Easts that I have not seen for many years,” said Mr Morris. “These include Mrs Lillian Atkin and Mrs Carmel Drysdale whose husbands, Jack and Tom, were instrumental in me coming to the Tigers in 1968 and also the men who, along with others, were behind giving Eastern Suburbs the great Leagues Club we have now.”