Cowra Rugby League stalwart Peter McDonald has been announced as a 2017 Country Rugby League (CRL) Service Pin recipient after more than 40 years service to the game.
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McDonald will be presented his pin by ARLC Chairman John Grant at a dinner in Sydney, following the CRL annual general meeting on December 8th, 2017.
“I’m stoked about it. I’m over the moon,” Peter McDonald said of his recognition.
“You don’t do these jobs for the accolades you do it because you want to.
“It’s a great honour and it’s not an award that’s handed out very often.”
McDonald initially served as secretary of Cowra Rugby League for 20 years, before taking on the role as secretary for Group 10 Rugby League in 1996 – a position he still holds today.
He’s served as chairman of the Western Rams and has also been a member of the CRL board since 2014.
McDonald said a highlight of that time is six overseas tours, and the amount of friendships he’s made with people across the state.
He identified the 2007-2008 NSW Country under 18s tour of New Zealand as particularly memorable, due to six members of the squad progressing to first grade in the NRL – Joel Thompson, Daniel Mortimer, Nathan Smith, Shaun Fensom, Aiden Tolman and Nick Skinner.
“It’s just been a great experience. The mateship of it all is unbelievable,” McDonald said.
“My family has always supported me in my endeavours and that’s driven me. It’s a great life being involved in rugby league and sport.
“You have to be there to enjoy it.”
When word hit Cowra of McDonald receiving this award he was inundated by texts and phone calls of congratulations, he said.
McDonald is a life member of Cowra Rugby League, Group 10 and Western Region.
He has one more ambition and that’s to be honoured as a life member of CRL.
Bathurst’s Wayne Boyd will also be presented a Service Pin for his service to rugby league in Bathurst since 1976.
Boyd was made a life member of the Charleston’s in 1988, the Penguins in 1998 and the Panthers in 2007.
2017 Country Rugby League Service Pin recipients-
Geoff Reichel, Jane Walmsley (Group 21), John Anderson, Ben Byrne (Group 7), Peter McDonald, Wayne Boyd (Group 10), Thomas Hickey (Newcastle and Hunter), Christine O’Keeffe (Maitland District), Peter Blom (Group 4) and Dennis Hartley (Central Coast Division Rugby League)
The CRL annual general meeting is on December 8.
