Celebrating And Remembering A Century Of Tigers

Suzi Reis (left) with fellow organisers and family members at Tully Cemetery, where former Tigers player Jeff Nash's headstone features a footballer wearing his number six jersey. Photo credit: Helen Cook  

‍

By Helen Cook  

‍

For 100 years, the Tully Tigers have united generations of players, families and supporters, building a proud rugby league tradition.

This week, the club celebrates its centenary with a dinner dance at Tully State High School and special cemetery tours remembering those who helped shape its history.

‍

Established in 1926, Tully Rugby League's proud history includes the 1939 Wilson Cup victory and the prestigious 1963 North Queensland Foley Shield triumph, captained by former Australian representative Bob Banks.

Over the decades, Tully has produced outstanding rugby league talent, including local cane farmer Angelo Crema, who represented Queensland and Australia, and Queensland representative Danny Clifford.

‍

More recently, the club's junior ranks have produced NRL stars Jake Clifford and Queensland State of Origin forward Thomas Flegler.

The club has also developed female talent, including former Tully State High School student and dual NRLW premiership winner Romy Teitzel, while the Tigers' under-13 girls reached the Far North Queensland grand final this year.

‍

The centenary dinner dance, on Saturday 17th October at Tully State High School's multipurpose centre, will bring together past and present players, supporters and volunteers.

‍

‍

Former Tully junior and North Queensland Cowboys player Jake Clifford will be a special guest, with Brisbane band Vegas Please providing the entertainment.

‍

For many, it will be a chance to reconnect with old teammates, share memories of famous victories and celebrate the generations of families who have kept the Tigers roaring.

‍

But behind the premierships and famous players are countless others whose contributions have been just as important to the club's 100-year story.

Those people are being remembered through special evening tours of Tully Cemetery on Thursday 15th and Saturday 24th October, organised by Suzi Reis and a group of local families.

‍

Suzi, who was involved in the Tully 100 and Tully Sugar centenary cemetery tours, said the stories offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of those who helped shape the club.

‍

"Some of them are people you've heard of but never knew their story," she said.

Her own mother helped establish the Tigers' canteen around 1970, raising money to support the club.

‍

"If you're a footy fanatic like my family are, it's a way of life. It's what we do every weekend," she said.

‍

Among those remembered is Henry Alfred Taylor, who suffered a devastating injury while playing for Tully against Babinda in 1946. His relative Don Taylor will share the story of the 18-year-old, who died seven days after the match.

‍

‍

Another is Geoffrey Arthur Nash, who came from Cairns to play football in Tully and made the town his home.

His daughter-in-law Janelle Nash and granddaughter Lydia are helping preserve his story, including his lifelong friendship with fellow footballer Norm Reeves, whose ashes were returned to Tully and buried nearby.

‍

Deidre Holmes, president of the Mission Beach Historical Society, is also involved.

‍

"I think it's really important that everybody looks back at the past and the people that made the community and built our little town here," she said.

Other stories include the contributions of the Jones and Pease families, Kane Banu and passionate football supporter Olivo Ciuccolo.

‍

Together, the dinner dance and cemetery tours offer two ways to celebrate a century of Tigers history – honouring the achievements on the field and the people and families who made them possible.

‍

The cemetery tours begin at 5.30pm on Thursday 15th and Saturday 24th October. Meet at the new cemetery, wear your Tigers shirt, bring a torch and make a gold coin donation to the Tully Hospital Foundation.

‍