July 12,2024
Rugby league teams from across the QRL Central’s Division will be competing in Kingaroy this weekend for the prestigious 47th Battalion Memorial Trophy … but what is it exactly?
The trophy – now a bit the worse for wear over the years – is a memorial to the 47th Battalion (Wide Bay Regiment) which was based in Maryborough but drew men from across the Wide Bay.
The trophy was donated in 1971 by former Bundaberg resident Peter Marcellos who served in the Battalion in World War II.
It was his tribute to the memory of fallen comrades.
The rugby league competition began in 1971, starting a tradition to bring together rugby league people and members of the 47th Battalion in a spirit of co-operation and remembrance.
Marcellos, who died in 1988, was born in Greece in 1913 and arrived in Australia just prior to the outbreak of war in 1939.
He enlisted in the 47th Battalion on May 15, 1941, in Bundaberg and made many of his first friends in his adopted country.
ln Peter’s own words: “The 47th Battalion was my family and I wish to perpetuate the memory of the many friends I made, which includes those who paid the highest price in the Middle East and Papua
New Guinea.”
The original competition featured teams from Maryborough, Bundaberg, Gympie, the South Burnett and Sunshine Coast.
Initially, the competition drew its teams and players from the same parts of Queensland as the 47th Battalion (there were training centres for the Wide Bay Regiment across the region at the start of World War II, including Murgon, Wondai and Kingaroy).
Central Burnett joined the competition in 1985.
When the Central Division of the QRL was created after the merger of the former Wide Bay, Central, and South West Divisions, the 47th Battalion competition was expanded and invitations extended in 2010 to all local leagues to take part.
The first women’s teams were added in 2011.
[Information courtesy of the QRL]
- External link: 47th Australian Infantry Battalion (Australian War Memorial)
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At this year’s carnival, teams competing in Kingaroy will be:
- Men – Bundaberg Bears, Burnett Brahmans, Central Highlands, Gladstone Raiders, Queensland Outback, Rockhampton Rustlers, Sunshine Coast Falcons and Toowoomba Clydesdales
- Women – Central Highlands, Gladstone Raidettes, Queensland Outback, Rockhampton Rustlers, Toowoomba Clydesdales and Wide Bay Bulls
South Burnett and Central Burnett players have been selected for the Burnett Brahmans (men) and Wide Bay Bulls (women) teams.
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Previous Winners
- 1971 – Lower South Burnett
- 1972 – South Burnett
- 1973 – Maryborough
- 1974 – Sunshine Coast
- 1975 – Sunshine Coast
- 1976 – Maryborough
- 1977 – Sunshine Coast
- 1978 – Sunshine Coast
- 1979 – Sunshine Coast
- 1980 – Sunshine Coast
- 1981 – Gympie
- 1982 – South Burnett
- 1983 – Bundaberg
- 1984 – Bundaberg
- 1985 – Maryborough
- 1986 – Gympie
- 1987 – Gympie
- 1988 – South Burnett
- 1989 – Sunshine Coast
- 1990 – South Burnett
- 1991 – Sunshine Coast
- 1992 – Sunshine Coast
- 1993 – Sunshine Coast
- 1994 – Bundaberg
- 1995 – Sunshine Coast
- 1996 – Maryborough / Hervey Bay
- 1997 – Sunshine Coast / Gympie
- 1998 – South Burnett
- 1999 – Sunshine Coast / Gympie
- 2000 – Sunshine Coast / Gympie
- 2001 – Sunshine Coast / Gympie
- 2002 – Sunshine Coast / Gympie
- 2003 – Bundaberg
- 2004 – Sunshine Coast / Gympie
- 2005 – Sunshine Coast / Gympie
- 2006 – Sunshine Coast / Gympie
- 2007 – Bundaberg
- 2008 – Sunshine Coast
- 2009 – Sunshine Coast / Gympie
- 2010 – Bundaberg
- 2011 – Bundaberg
- 2012 – Toowoomba
- 2013 – Bundaberg
- 2014 – Toowoomba
- 2015 – Toowoomba
- 2016 – Sunshine Coast
- 2017 – Toowoomba
- 2018 – Sunshine Coast
- 2019 – Toowoomba
- 2020 – Not Played (Pandemic)
- 2021 – Toowoomba
- 2022 – Rockhampton
- 2023 – Toowoomba
