The King’s Birthday: Plan to honour Wally Lewis instead of Charles

Five million Queenslanders are being urged to swap a public holiday to honour Wally Lewis on the “real” King’s Birthday.

Queensland league legends Wally Lewis and Cameron Smith at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Zain Mohammed

Wally Lewis was The King of State of Origin.

Now rugby league legend Cameron Smith has thrown his support behind a bold campaign for five million Queenslanders to swap a public holiday to honour Lewis on the “real” King’s Birthday.

The King’s Birthday public holiday is slated in Queensland for next Monday, ahead of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to Australia two weeks later.

But with Charles and Camilla snubbing the Sunshine State in favour of trips to NSW and Canberra, there is a push for Queenslanders to take the royal public holiday on King Wally’s birthday on December 1.

Under the Fair Work Act, Australian workers have the ability to agree with their employer to substitute a public holiday for another day.

Queenslanders can register their interest by visiting a specially created website which will produce a ready-made email to send to their employer requesting a swap to celebrate the Real King’s Birthday.

Now 64, Lewis is regarded as the greatest player in State of Origin history, playing 36 games for Queensland between 1980-91 and earning the nickname ‘The King’ for his dominance of rivals NSW.

Wally Lewis is carried from the then Lang Park by Martin Bella (left) and Sam Backo after a win during the 1991 State of Origin.

His full name, Walter James Lewis, even has a regal ring to it, and former Maroons skipper Smith says it’s time for the Sunshine State to truly celebrate the King of Queensland.

“As a proud Queenslander, I think it’s about time we gave Wally the recognition he truly deserves,” SportsPick Ambassador and NRL legend Smith said.

“If we’re going to celebrate a King, it should be the one who brought pride and glory to our state through rugby league.

“I’m encouraging all Queenslanders to visit TheRealKing.com.au and speak to their bosses about swapping the King’s Birthday public holiday for Wally’s.

“What better way to honour the man who’s given us so much than by making his birthday a day of celebration across the state?”

“For me personally, Wally has always been an inspiration, and this is a fitting way to acknowledge his lasting legacy.

“We’re not just swapping holidays _ we’re recognising the true royalty that has shaped the state and made us proud as Queenslanders.”

Lewis wasn’t just a legend on the field; he embodied the true spirit of Queenslanders and led the mighty Maroons into battle on 30 occasions.

Wally Lewis in action for the Brisbane Broncos in 1989

His title “The King” was bestowed by the very people who played alongside him and the millions of Queenslanders who were inspired by his heroics in the cauldron of Origin battle.

More than 30 years after his Maroons retirement, Lewis still holds the record for the most man-of-the-match awards in State of Origin with eight, one ahead of Smith.

The Emperor of Lang Park was so dominant that two of Queensland’s greatest playmakers, Johnathan Thurston and Darren Lockyer, won eight man-of-the-match awards between them from a combined 73 Origin games.

Charles and Camilla’s tour marks the first trip to Australia from a reigning monarch since Queen Elizabeth II visited Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth in 2011.

It will also be the first new monarch tour in 70 years after Queen Elizabeth II’s maiden voyage in 1954.

King Wally admitted he was caught by surprise when the initiative was first brought to his attention.

“To be honest, when I first heard about the SportsPick campaign I thought it was Gene Miles (fellow Queensland Origin great) playing another one of his pranks on me,” Lewis said.

“To know that many Queenslanders are acknowledging me by asking their bosses to swap the public holiday next Monday to celebrate my birthday is very humbling.

“I’ve had many great birthdays over the years but this one certainly takes the cake.”

Originally published as The King’s Birthday: Plan to honour Wally Lewis instead of Charles