September 14, 2023
Toowoomba Regional Council has paid tribute to Queensland rugby league great John McDonald AM who died in Toowoomba on Wednesday.
Mr McDonald – father of Mayor Geoff McDonald – coached the Maroons to their historic win in the inaugural State of Origin match at Lang Park in 1980.
He played for Valleys Toowoomba, Manly-Warringah, Queensland and 13 Tests for Australia.
Mr McDonald captained the Sea Eagles in the famous 1970 NSWRL Grand Final which South Sydney won 23-12 (remembered by fans as the game in which Rabbitohs’ captain John Sattler broke his jaw).
After his playing career ended, Mr McDonald turned to coaching and then League administration.
He was chairman of the Queensland Rugby League from 1992-2012 and served as deputy director of the Australian Rugby League.
He was awarded Life Membership of the QRL in 2007.
TRC Deputy Mayor Rebecca Vonhoff extended her sympathies on behalf of Council to the McDonald family.
“We at Council and across the community are deeply saddened to hear of Mr McDonald’s passing and acknowledge his extraordinary service to our region,” Cr Vonhoff said.
“When people talk about Mr McDonald, they use the words fair, determined, gritty and warm. Mr McDonald lived a big life and left nothing on the field.
“(He) was a highly respected Toowoomba businessman through his family’s long-held printing businesses McDonald and Rosbrook, and later Cracker Print and Paper.
“Beyond his own business interests, he was a well-regarded community member who served as the chairman of the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland, responsible for staging the Toowoomba Royal Show and associated events.
“While Mr McDonald achieved remarkable success across Australia and internationally, he never forgot his roots or his family back in Toowoomba.”
- External link: Vale John McDonald
