VALE ALLAN HUNTER



Attached are a few words about Allan both from the Morningside Football Club and also the Boomerang Gabba Squash Club.

Allan Hunter was a long time member of the Boomerang/Gabba Squash Club. Allan along with several other members of the Morningside Footy Club decided in the mid sixties, that a good way to keep fit in the off Footy Season, would be to play competition Squash, but they probably didn't realize that the Boys from Boomerang enjoyed a few social drinks after squash, so maybe it was going to be a bit harder to keep up their fitness levels. But Allan and his mates fitted into the Boomerang culture really well, and Allan was a regular under the tree, when his team played at home.

The Morningside Players were successful in winning a couple of Pennants when they first joined in 1966, Allan and his mates won Pennants in E3 and E1, Most seasons that Allan played with both Boomerang and the Gabba, he was in teams with Footy Mates Trevor Matthews and Darrell Burrows. And in 1980 Allan, Trevor and Darrell with other Team Mates Gary Knott and Glen Trimble won the C1 Pennant.

Allan moved to the Gabba when Boomerang closed, and he played until the 1983/84 Season, which meant he played for approximately 36 seasons straight. He played a lot of years in C and B Grade and in his last season of Squash he was in B3, and was in the same team as one of his long time work mates on the wharves, Peter Creevey. I agree with Steve Dalziel who wrote the story about Allan's days at the Footy Club, when he said "Allan was a loyal friend and a damn good bloke who will be sadly missed".


By Joe Williams




Morningside Football Club lost a very loyal and reliable member recently when Allan Hunter, 66 of Tingalpa, untimely and very suddenly, passed away from cancer.

Allan was an important member of Morningside's 1967 Reserve Grade Premiership team and maintained a lifelong interest in the Panthers following the senior teams' fortunes from the Jack Hawkins Bar, usually with a quiet ale or two with friends and past players. At 180cm and powerfully built, Allan played as a ruckman from under 16 level through to A grade when Morningside had some very good teams in the mid sixties. During the torrid Grand Final win of '67 Allan received an injured eye and was admitted to hospital straight after the game. That did not stop his teammates from sneaking a few stubbies into his room, so he discharged himself the next morning, went back to the Jack Esplen Oval home ground and wasn't seen at his home for another four days. Allan was a quiet achiever, proud to be a wharfie for 30 years. He often finished a full night shift and could be found at Morningside's home ground the next morning mowing the oval. One of Allan's proudest achievements at the club in the mid sixties was when he was fittingly awarded the Best Clubman Trophy. Allan is survived by his wife of 42 years Barbara, his sons who both played for Morningside juniors in Todd and Drew and their respective partners, Samantha and Maria. He loved his grandchildren - Lola, Evie and Ari - and when he learned the full extent of his illness, he said to wife his greatest regret was that he would not live long enough to see his grandchildren grow to adulthood. Allan was a devoted husband and father, a loyal friend and a damn good bloke who will be sadly missed.

By Steve Dalziel