John ‘Cracker’ McDonald funeral: League legends say farewell to Toowoomba identity

Rugby league legends have joined the friends and family of John ‘Cracker’ McDonald to farewell the beloved Toowoomba identity at his funeral on Friday.

Hundreds of people turned out under the bright sunny stars to farewell John ’Cracker’ McDonald AM whose funeral service was held on Mr McDonald’s beloved Athletic Oval (Toowoomba Sports Ground) on Friday.

The service celebrated the very full life of Mr McDonald from his young years in Toowoomba where he attended East State School and Toowoomba Grammar, his successful running career and, of course, his feats on and off the rugby league field where he represented Toowoomba Valleys, The Clydesdales, Manly Warringah, Queensland, New South Wales and Australia.

In his after rugby league life Mr McDonald took to the game’s administration and after a stint as chairman of the Toowoomba Rugby League rose to the positions of Queensland Rugby League chairman, Australian Rugby League chairman and International Rugby League Federation chairman.

He was also the Queensland State of Origin team’s inaugural coach in 1980.

It was only fitting then that some of the who’s who of the game attended his funeral service including Wayne Bennett, Wally Lewis, Gene Miles and current Queensland Rugby League CEO Ben Ikin.

Mr McDonald’s son Jim McDonald was first to speak at the service and recalled his father’s childhood in Toowoomba, his sprinting career along with good friend Greg Gabbett and going into the family printing business McDonald and Rosbrook.

“John ‘Cracker’ McDonald, a kind, strong gentleman with a great sense of humour and a love of life,” he said.

He said John McDonald was born to John ‘Cracker’ McDonald Snr, a printer and Wallaby rugby union representative, and Teresa “Tess” Berghofer who worked in the binding room at the print shop – something that was to be replicated by his eldest son John who met his wife to be Joan Murphy who worked in the binding room at McDonald and Rosbrook in the early 1960s.

Mr McDonald’s coffin was adorned with a myriad of symbols from his life including his Queensland jersey, wedding photo, folded blank cheque for “just in case”, lead type from his compositing career at McDonald and Rosbrook, RASQ tie, 1967 Kangaroo tour diary, running spikes and stopwatch, Order of Australia Medal awarded in 2004, Toowoomba Rugby League Hall of Fame plaque and representative blazers of Queensland, New South Wales and Australian Rugby League.

After the service, Mr McDonald was taken on one last lap of honour of his beloved Athletic Oval before the funeral procession proceeded south on Ruthven St to a private burial.

Mr McDonald is survived by his wife Joan, children Jim and Deb, Jen and Wayne, Julie, Geoff and Lisa, Grant and Annette and Maree, 15 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Geoff McDonald speaks at the funeral for his father, John 'Cracker' McDonald.

A lap of honour for John 'Cracker' McDonald at his funeral.

Wayne Bennett and Frank Hedge at John McDonald's funeral.

Geoff McDonald speaks at the funeral for his father, Jeff McDonald.

Clive Berghofer at John McDonald's funeral.

Ben Ikin at John 'Cracker' McDonald's funeral

Jim McDonald speaks at the funeral for his father, John McDonald.

State of Origin legends Wally Lewis and Gene Miles at John McDonald's funeral.