Life Members

AS OF JUNE 2024, THERE ARE 17 CURRENT NEW ZEALAND RUGBY LEAGUE LIFE MEMBERS.

Current Life Members (alphabetical order): John Bray KSM, John Coffey QSM, Reon Edwards, Frank Morris Endacott, Allen Gore KSM, Ray Haffenden MNZM, Peter Kerridge JP & NNZM, Sir Peter Leitch KNZM & QASM, Trevor Maxwell, William McEntee (Bill), Cameron McGregor, Christine Rewa Panapa, Sel Pearson, Gerald Ryan, Cherie Steele-Shanks, Howie Tamati, Kevin Tamati.

Life Members

1920 – Stan Brice

1921 – Duncan McLean

1926 – Thomas Boswell, William Liversidge, Arthur Schofield, George Wheatley

1935 – Arthur Harlock

1937 – Lewis Binns, Cyril Snedden

1939 – Ernest Stallworthy

1940 – Wilf Davies, George Bassett

1941 – Tonga Mahuta

1942 – Scotty McClymont

1943 – Lance Hunter

1946 – Gordon Hooker

1947 – Edward Chapman

1948 – Owen Carlaw

1949 – Thomas Smith, Leslie Bull

1950 – Ivan Culpan, Harry Rogers

1953 – Robert Doble, Jack Redwood OBE

1956 – George Falgar

1957 – Ernie Asher

1958 – David Wilkie, William Swift

1961 – John Watson, Roy Lash

1962 – Dr Fred Gwynne

1963 – Bill Moyle, Colin Siddle

1964 – Tom Skinner KBE, Tom McKenzie

1966 – “Ted” Knowling MBE

1968 – George Plant

1969 – Eric Bennett

1970 – Dr Leo Cooney

1971 – Arthur Chapman, Ray Cody MNZM, Doug Wilson

1972 – Ces Mountford MBE, Ivan Stonex

1974 – Archie Stuart BEM

1976 – Trevor Wellsmore

1977 – Keith Blow, Jack Williams

1978 – Ron McGregor JP & OBE

1980 – Ken English

1981 – Des Barchard

1982 – Dr Brian Watson

1983 – Les Huston

1984 -Bill O’Callaghan JP, Tom Newton

1985 – Allen Gore* KSM, Mel Clinton OBE

1987 – Alby Bernard

1988 – Bill Nesbitt, “Bud” Lisle* MNZM, Bill Whitehead QSM

1989 – Bob Aynsley

1990 – Jim Campbell MNZM

1991 – Bill Sorensen

1993 – George Rainey

1994 – “Ted” Gutberlet QSM, John McKeown

2000 – Crispin Easterbrook

2003 – Ray Cranch MNZM

2006 – Gerald Ryan ONZM, Don Hammond

2007 – Peter Kerridge* JP & MNZM

2008 – Lory Blanchard MNZM, Bernie Wood MNZM

2009 – Howie Tamati* MBE

2010 – John Bray* KSM

2012 – David Robinson

2013 – Ray Haffenden* MNZM, Trevor Maxwell*

2014 – Mrs Cathy Friend QSM & DSA

2015 – Jack Fagan, Sel Pearson*, Brian Reidy

2016 – Sir Peter Leitch KNZM & QSM*

2017 – Cherie Steele-Shanks*

2018 – John Coffey QSM*

2019 – Kevin Tamati*, Cameron McGregor*

2020 –  Frank Morris Endacott ONZM* 

2022 – Reon Edwards*

2023 – Christine Rewa Panapa*,William McEntee (Bill)*

*current life members

Distinguished Service Awards
first awarded in 1977

1977 – Pat Bennett, Mrs Joan English, John Lloyd, Les Pearson, George Stuart, Bill Scurr, Ray Turton

1979 – Bill Grieve, Ray Cranch MNZM

1980 – John Percival QSM

1981 – Jim Courtney

1982 – Bill Nesbitt, Bill Paki, Bert Payne, Bill Sorensen

1983 – Gordon Blazey, Don Raynor

1984 – “Bud” Lisle MNZM

1985 – Dr Mutyala Satyanand QBE

1988 – Lester Jobbitt, Bill Sewell, Ernie Todd

1989 – John Haynes, Earle Pilcher

1990 – Bill Cooney

1991 – John Beckwith, Mrs Joy Johansson, Mrs Lill Lawless QSM, Gus Malam, Joe Vivian

1992 – Harvey Kreyl, Don Millar

1993 – Mrs Esme Tamati

1994 – Lory Blanchard MNZM, Peter Coll, Mrs Olivia Karu, Ross Lipscombe, Keith Roberts, Bob Tukiri MNZM, Peter Yaxley

1995 – Dave Ahu

1996 – Cathy Friend

2003 – Teri Tamati

2005 – Des Jenkinson

2006 – Mrs Cherie Steele-Shanks MNZM, Bernie Wood MNZM

2013 – Grant Gibson, Ian Jenkins

2013 – Mrs Sharon Bird, Richard Bolton, Bob Dragicevich, Graham Lowe ONZM & QSM, Mrs Christine Panapa

2014 – Kevin Bailey, Ray Fitiao, Dave McLeod, Sonny Rata

2015 – Pat Carthy, Carey Clements EM, Gordon Gibbons, Graham Pitts

2019 – Brian Keane, Josh Cleaver, Paul Rosanowski, Tufele Taufa

2020 – John Peter Brimble, John Gary Clarke, Bill Liddell, Stanley Nicholas, Gary Whittle

2021 – Des Michael O’Sullivan, William ‘Bill’ Mann, George Tuata Tahapehi, Alana Lockhorst, Barrie Robert James Law

2022 – Paddy Byrne, Reon Edwards, George Lajpold, Jenny Nahu, Nick Nahu

2023 – Emile Va’afusuaga, John Gardiner,Wi Kapua, Bruce Milne

Special thanks to Carey Clements for painstakingly researching these lists. Due to the lack of records kept through the 1990s in particular, there are still gaps so any assistance in filling these would be greatly appreciated.