'Always a Dolphin' - Vale Tom Maule

Rugby league in Redcliffe is huge. The Redcliffe Dolphins, an institution.

One of the men behind the club, founding member Tom Maule, passed away on Monday night, aged 95, and will be sorely missed by all those who crossed his path.

During more than 70 years involved with the Dolphins, Maule, who grew up on the Peninsula, was a player, administrator and very passionate supporter.

The Australian Navy veteran, stationed in Darwin during the Bombing of Darwin aged just 18, left the Navy post-war and returned home to Redcliffe, aged 22.

Maule attended the inaugural meeting of the Redcliffe Peninsula Rugby League Football Club on February 27, 1947. A small group led by Bill McLeod were determined to bring a rugby league club to Redcliffe. And that, they did.

Maule played in the club’s first team, in the Sandgate Suburban Rugby League competition, was the club’s first representative player and worked as the club’s accountant.

Redcliffe Dolphins CEO Tony Murphy told the Redcliffe and Bayside Herald the Dolphins life member’s commitment to the club was “unbelievable”, still visiting a few times every week. 

Murphy said he spoke to Maule, who he described as "red and white - through and through", just a few weeks ago, on the new deck at Dolphin Stadium.

“He was very Catholic, he was sitting there and he said, ‘I often wonder why the good Lord had kept me around, looking over this stadium I understand why’.

“He always remained a rugby league man and loved the game very, very much.”

Hero photo: Bradley Cooper/Quest Community News