Club celebrates 75th anniversary

Published 3:10pm 15 August 2022

Words by Kylie Knight

Former players, coaches, officials and long-time supporters celebrated the Redcliffe Dolphins’ 75^th anniversary in style on Friday night.

The event, fittingly held at the top of the Des Webb Stand – named in honour of the club’s late chairman, brought 260 guests together to remember the club’s history and get excited about its future.

Speakers at the event, hosted by club patron Rupert McCall, included former players Wally Fullerton-Smith, Terry Webb, Ian Graham, James Hinchey, Mark Shipway and Troy Lindsay, current Dolphins’ captain Cameron Cullen, Chairman Bob Jones, Group CEO Tony Murphy and Dolphins NRL CEO Terry Reader.

One of the highlights included the screening of a video interview with 1965 premiership player John Treeby.

Treeby spoke about how winning a premiership stayed with you for life and how excited he is to see the club in the NRL.

The speakers also covered the club’s formation in 1947, its entry to the Brisbane Rugby League (BRL) in 1960, its first BRL premiership in 1965, the move from the Redcliffe Showgrounds to Dolphin Oval, the ‘90s during which the club won three premierships in four years, the golden 2000s, the development of the retail/health precinct and Moreton Daily Stadium, and its entry to the NRL in 2023.

Dolphins Chairman Bob Jones says it was a fantastic night, Rupert McCall was the perfect host and many who were there said they have learnt more about the club’s history.

“I think it’s about the best formal night I’ve been to at Redcliffe … just the presentation, the whole night was great,” he says.

There were plenty of stories and laughs shared.

“It’s always that way when we get together and there’s some people you haven’t see for a while,” he says.

Jones says the club’s forebears continue to be the benchmark, for current members and board.

“There’s a resonance that has gone through the club forever in a day. It’s my turn to carry the baton and when I’m finished, it will be someone else’s turn to carry the baton of what these guys started back then (in 1947),” he explains.

“There’s lots of good people in the club. The bad ones don’t last. It’s that sort of club, there’s a cultural thing there.

“It’s very special and quite hard to put into words.”