Visiting former rugby league players in Shoal Bay

Vice President Greg Hennessy and secretary Peter Arnold from our Port Stephens Committee paid a visit to the Harbourside Haven nursing home at Shoal Bay to catch up with some former rugby league players.

93-year-old Bill Parfitt had a stellar career with the once strong Waratah-Mayfield club in the Newcastle competition. Bill played both juniors and seniors with the ‘Tahs’ which included winning a premiership in 1945. Bill fondly recalls some of his teammates who included state players Ted Dawson (who would go on to play with St George) and Roy Kirkaldy (who played 10 games with NSW and 148 games with Canterbury Bulldogs).

Greg and Peter also took the time to visit former Balmain Tigers junior, Keith Holland, who would later go on to play grade footy for the iconic Newton Jets and Ryde-Eastwood.