With deep sadness we would like to advise all our Supporters and Newcastle rugby league supporters of the passing of former Northern Suburbs representative forward Doug Hawke. Without any confirmation Doug would have been our oldest representative player today as well as one of our oldest former players.
Doug was born in Northumberland St, Maryville in 1929, the son of H.(Jerry) Hawke who played for the Bluebags from 1928 through to 1935,as well as representing Newcastle in many matches culminating in his selection for Country Seconds in 1931.Jerry then went on to be a North’s coach and official for many years.
Doug,like his father went on to represent the Northern Suburbs club with distinction going straight from Under 20’s in 1949 to first grade in 1950.That in itself is a fantastic achievement,considering the calibre of our forwards at that time and right into the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Doug played from 1950 through to 1957,playing in our 1951 and 1953 premiership winning teams, then going on to represent Newcastle on many occasions including several games for NSW Country.
Some of Doug’s notable achievements:
1952 Newcastle vs New Zealand.
1952 Coalfields vs St George.
1953 Country 2nd’s vs City.
1953 Newcastle Vs America
1953 Coalfields vs Newtown.
1954 Country 2nd’s vs City
1954 Newcastle vs England.
1955 Newcastle vs France.
1955 Newcastle vs South Sydney.
1956 Newcastle vs Coalfields.
1956 Newcastle vs New Zealand.
1956 Newcastle vs South Sydney.
Our condolences and thoughts go out to Doug’s family at this time.
Funeral details are as follows:
Generation City Church,Tudor St,Hamilton this Thursday from 11am.
* It was at this Church that Doug spent many hours cooking for the homeless.
Many thanks to Garry Pyers for his assistance in helping with information on Doug, including supplying the recent pictures of Doug doing some wood turning as from only 2 weeks ago.
