Vale Ron Wilson

6 January 2013

Sadly Ron Wilson passed away at Gosford Private Hospital on Sunday 6 January 2013.  Ron was a former member of the Balmain Referees Association and was involved for a number of years with the Balmain Junior League.  Ron had been battling Lymphoma since first being diagnosed in January 1998.

Ron played rugby league for Gladesville in the late 50s before being graded into the Western Suburbs 3rd grade team in 1958, and was a member winning the 3rd grade premiership team in that year and the reserve grade Premiership team of 1961.  Ron played for Wests until 1962, mostly in 3rd and reserve grade, only playing one 1st grade game, a game in which he broke his jaw.  Following this he joined Balmain Referees Association in 1963 and refereed in the District for 2 years.

In the early seventies (circa 72-73) he coached Macquarie University Rugby League Team winning the Arnold Stehr Knockout Competition and then was on the Holy Cross Rugby League Committee, where 4 of his sons played rugby league and was delegate to the Balmain Junior League.  Ron then joined the Management Committee of the Balmain District Junior Rugby League Football Club in 1976 and was Chairman of the Judiciary until 1979.  Ron was also Assistant Secretary for the Junior League in 1978 and 1979.

Ron is survived by his wife Anne, his five sons, Steven, Phillip, Anthony, David and James, 12 grandchildren and three great grand children.