Mosman Rugby Club Honour Roll

David Fisher Memorial Award

The David Fisher Memorial Award was first awarded in 1970, it is for Leadership on and off the Field and is awarded for:

1. COURAGE
2. WILLINGNESS
3. FELLOWSHIP

In addition, the following points are to be considered:-

1. Attendance at training.
2. Games played during the season.
3. Best & Fairest (Behaviour on and off the field).
4. Leadership (Both on and off the field).
5. Players eligible only.
6. Open to any player in the grade and colts.
7. Fellowship.

The legacy of David Fisher

The late Dave Fisher was educated at Sydney Grammar School. Upon leaving school David entered the accountancy profession.

David joined Mosman Rugby Club 1965 and played 10 first grade games and also participated in second and third grade. David was awarded Best & Fairest player in 1966.

David volunteered for National Service late in 1967 and after the initial six month period was accepted in to SAS Special Air Services after extending his service period to three years. David was deployed to South Vietnam in December 1968 and was listed as Missing In Action Sept 1969 after a fall from a helicopter during a “hot” extraction.

David’s remains were located after 39 years and returned home to Australia in October 2008. You can read more about David Fisher on the Defence website. Photo is also from defence.gov.au’s website.

The Tom Duggan Award

The Tom Duggan Award is awarded by the Club in recognition of long term service. Tom was an outstanding administrator at the Club from the later 1960’s up to his death in 1989. He was a stickler for discipline and had a no-nonsense attitude to everyone doing their fair share of duties for the Club.

He was probably the originator of Mosman being a Players’ Club. Tom worked hard for the Club’s on field and off field performance from when he joined, and when he passed away his family donated a trophy to the Club to recognise service to the Club over the long term, and specified that the trophy was to be awarded only when an individual met the strict criteria of the Award.

Peter Lind Jewellery Players Player Award

The Players Player Award is the Club’s only award that is voted on by the players, both Grade and Colts. Peter Lind has sponsored the Award since its introduction in 1994. Peter and his business have been supporters of the Club over the period since the Award was first introduced

Gordon Simonds Clubman of the Year Award

Gordon Simonds was a player and administrator with the club over many years – and even decades from the 1940’s to the 1970’s, some would say single handedly carried the Club’s administration on his shoulders for much of this period!! Gordon who is now deceased is one of the Club’s Honorary Life Members. He was also instrumental in establishing Nelson Bay Rugby Club, such was his great love of rugby, and his expertise as an administrator.

John ‘Lumpy’ Dean Volunteer of the Year

The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes a member or supporter of the Club who goes beyond the expected in contributing to the game day running of the Club. It was named in honor of John “Lumpy” Dean, who for many years after his playing career with the Club, was manager of teams, mainly 1st Grade. Lumpy was a great clubman who enjoyed nothing more than being at Rawson Park on a Saturday afternoon to support the Whales, and have a few beers in the Clubhouse afterwards. He died in 2006 after a long battle with cancer.

Barry Williams Trophy for Coach of the Year

Barry Williams is the Club’s ‘Senior’ Honorary Life Member and his involvement with the Club has spanned more than seven decades. Over many of the early years he coached teams, as well as being on the Club’s committee, including as Vice-President. Barry attends all the Club’s games from his home on the Central Coast, a not insignificant effort for someone in his 80’s!

Barry presented the trophy, one he himself won as a Coach of the Year, to the Club to recognise the coach who makes the most significant effort in the coaching and mentoring of players.

O’Keefe Family Trophy for Club Best & Fairest Player

The O’Keefe Family trophy was presented to the Club by Ex-Mayor of Mosman and Club Patron, Barry O’Keefe and his family. Barry had close ties with the club when he served as a Mosman councilor and his son “Pip” played colts for the Club. The trophy recognizes the grade player who accumulates the most Best & Fairest points as awarded by the coaches each week during the competition rounds.

Bill Smyth Award for Best & Fairest Colt

The Bill Smyth Award was named in honour of tough prop Bill Smyth Snr who played for the Club in the 1960-70’s. Bill served on the Club’s committee, including as President and is one of the Club’s Honorary Life Members. Bill’s sons Paul and John both played for Mosman in Colts and grade, and Paul is the Club’s current 1st Grade coach. Bill set up the first colts teams in the Club’s history in 1978 /79 and mentored the colts for several years. The trophy recognizes the Colts player who accumulates the most Best & Fairest points as awarded by the coaches each week during the competition rounds.

Afton Hema Award for Most Improved Grade Player

Afton was a member of Mosman Rugby for the period 1989 – 2006, when he tragically died quite unexpectedly. He joined the Club quite late in his rugby life and played 120 games for the Club. However he served as Honorary Secretary from 1994 – 2006. Afton was the epitomy of a behind the scenes Clubman, always doing his job, which as Hon Sec is one of the more onerous on the Committee, and never seeking recognition. Afton was made a Honorary Life Member of the Club in 2004.

He was a fierce promoter of all aspects of fair play and clubmanship. When he died the committee named the Most Improved Grade player in his honour, as he was someone who always recognized players who put in the extra effort to play at their highest level for the Club.

The award itself is generally not awarded to new players, including colts from the previous year.

Most Improved Colts Player

The award for the Most Improved Colts Player is generally awarded to the players, who show signs of a promising grade career after they are to old to play colts.

Rookie of the Year

The award is given to the best new player to join the club that year.