Tributes for Wynnum Manly rugby league legend
The man who helped put together arguably one of the greatest rugby league teams ever has been remembered after recently passing away.
Southeast
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THE man responsible for putting together arguably one of the greatest rugby league teams ever has died.
Arthur Lovell, who died on January 20 aged 89, was the chairman of the Wynnum Manly Leagues Club for 22 years, helped recruit stars such as Gene Miles, Greg Dowling, Colin Scott and ‘The King’ Wally Lewis to the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, creating a dynasty of sorts in Queensland Rugby League.
The Seagulls would go on to win three premierships in the 1980s, the most successful decade in the club’s history.
“Arthur Lovell was on the WMLC Board from 1981 for 23 years, 22 of these years as chair,” Wynnum Manly Leagues Club’s current chairman, Bruce Baxter, said.
“He has Life Membership at both the Leagues Club and the Seagulls.
“Over his tenure he was heavily involved in Seagulls Rugby League and played a major role in the ethos of the Leagues Club supporting the local community over the years.”
Wynnum Manly Seagulls chief executive Hanan Laban said the club was sad to hear the news of Lovell’s passing.
“Arthur had a long and special association with the club,” he said.
“I was a player when Arthur was still at the Leagues Club and he was just very supportive of the club and rugby league in Wynnum Manly.
“Obviously he played a big role in the history of the Seagulls. Those Seagulls teams in the 1980s is kind of what our club is known for.
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“Those times are very special to everyone here and those players such as the great Wally Lewis and Gene Miles are people our current players look up to and the success they had is what we try to emulate now.”
Another one of Lovell’s proudest achievements was then the Australian Rugby League declared Kougari Oval as the home of schoolboy’s league in Australia after numerous national and state championships were held there.
Lovell, whose career was celebrated at a retirement ceremony in 2014, played a key role in helping the bayside community through grants and initiatives from the Wynnum Manly Leagues Club, which now donates more than $1 million per year.
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