Who’s Who in 22, Media & Influencers: Rupert McCall

Redcliffe’s favourite son, wordsmith and poet Rupert McCall revved up the Queensland Maroons, paid tribute to the Rats of Tobruk on Anzac Day and helped celebrate the Redcliffe Dolphins’ 75^th anniversary in 2022.

These are just some of the highlights from a busy year for the well-regarded emcee, poet and inspirational speaker whose words have added colour and emotion to significant events, celebrated achievements and entertained many.

Rupert, who grew up on the Redcliffe peninsula, has been a passionate supporter of the Redcliffe Dolphins since he was a boy and is now also backing the Dolphins’ NRL team.

He hosted the Redcliffe Dolphins’ 75^th anniversary event in August, an evening that brought together club legends and long-time supporters.

Rupert is a regular at Redcliffe RSL Dawn Services on Anzac Day, where his poetry is always a highlight.

In a moving moment this year, he recited Heroes of Tobruk, a tribute to his grandfather Barney McCall who was a Rat of Tobruk and to his father Kerry, who passed away the week before Anzac Day.

It was a difficult reading for McCall, a favourite at the Redcliffe Dawn Service, but a moment he said he was not going to miss.

Rupert also did his best to fire up the Queensland Maroons in June, ahead of 2022 State of Origin series, with his poem Blood and bone maroon at the launch.

About Rupert McCall

Rupert McCall discovered the poetic rhythm of Banjo Paterson's work at a small primary school in Woody Point, in 1980, when he was in Year 5.

Rupert wrote his first poem the following year – a dedication to trees that won him a highly commended poetry competition at Arbor Day and gave him the confidence to continue writing.

He graduated from school, continued his studies at university with a law degree, and landed a job as an articled clerk with a Brisbane law firm, but a desire to be creative kept growing.

Rupert wrote tributes to mates for their 21st birthdays and was soon noticed by friends and family outside his circle.

He juggled life as an articled clerk and part-time poet, often writing while he was waiting for his number to be called to file documents in court, until he took a leap of faith and pursued it full time.

Rupert has honoured his heroes on and off the sporting field and travelled the world making audiences laugh and cry.

He lists his career highlights as reciting his poem A Firefighter’s Dream during a Ground Zero ceremony in New York on September 11, 2010, and reciting 90 Years Ago at Anzac Cove on the 90th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.

Rupert is the author of six anthologies of verse that have collectively sold more than 120,000 copies.