Vale Bruce “La Pa” Stewart

 – 2 April 2012

Men of League are saddened by the news that one of the games character was lost on Monday night. Bruce Stewart known by many as “La Pa” and was well known in the Jack Gibson Era at Eastern Suburbs and his work in the indigenous community and the La Perouse community. The man many called twinkle toes is gone to a better place now and will surely be missed by many who have been lucky to know him.

In the past years Men of League has assisted La Pa with regular social visits and grant assistance.One of the visits that was organised through the MOL for La Pa was at the South’s League luncheon with former players from East’s, South’s and even Manly, who all got together and caught up with La Pa. La Pa enjoyed the day so much Cyril Peel said “he was singing a tune as if he was back playing at Easts when “Gibbo” was there and after a match he would sing with his wife Betty at the Surry Hotel”.
 
The Men of League Metropolitan Committee and Jim Hall all wanted to make sure La Pa would be included in any of their events and every event La Pa went to he was reminded of great mates he had in the rugby league communities. Although he couldn’t talk due to the stroke, his big smile just summed it up on how he felt about the Men of League.
 
Men of League will miss you mate, “yah,yah,yah”.