Dr. Peter Malouf, former Sharks doctor, celebrates 80th birthday

by Barry Ross

Dr. Peter Malouf celebrated his 80th birthday at Le Sands restaurant in Brighton on Saturday night, 23 February 2019. Men of League Foundation member 163, Dr. Malouf was the Cronulla Sharks doctor for 39 years from when they entered the competition in 1967. He also played a prominent role in establishing the Rugby League Doctors Association in the late 1980s and was the first President of this organisation with Bulldogs doctor, Hugh Hazard, the first Secretary/Treasurer.

Born in Albury, Peter completed his medical degree at Sydney University and opened a practice at Sylvania around 1968. He remained at this practice for 49 years or so, retiring in 2017 when he was 78. He began with the Sharks while working at Sutherland hospital. In 2007, he was awarded an OAM for services to medicine.

Around 100 family, friends and some former patients enjoyed the birthday which began at 6.30pm and finished near midnight. There were many prominent medical people and sporting identities at the night including well known jockey, Shane Dye, who flew from Macau to pay his respects to Peter.

Shane, who rode the 1989 Melbourne Cup winner Tawriffic and also won four Golden Slippers plus numerous other Group One winners, was a patient of Peter’s, during many of his successful years in Australia. Now 52, Shane rode more than 2,300 winners in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Mauritius.

John Lang, who played three Tests for Australia and coached Penrith to the 2003 Grand Final win over the Roosters, flew down from the Gold Coast with his wife for the party. Now 62, John coached Cronulla in 220 games, Penrith in 125 matches and South Sydney in 48 games, giving him a total of 393 first grade matches as an NRL coach.