John Bourke (far left, second row) in Brothers’ 1968 premiership side which was coached by Brian Davies
John Bourke was a devoted family man, a skillful footballer, and a dedicated surf life saver.
The former Queensland Rugby League representative hooker died on April 27, aged 79, after a courageous battle with cancer. A former student of Marist Brothers Rosalie, Bourke won Brisbane Rugby League Premierships with Past Brothers in 1967 and ’68 and was chosen for Queensland in 1970.
At Rosalie he played rugby union, but his first love was rugby league, and when he left school he joined Brothers at Corbett Park, Grange, graduating through the colts into first grade. At Brothers he played alongside fellow Rosalie Marists’ graduates, Barry ‘Tubby’ Dowling and Reg Cannon, who also went on to represent Queensland.
John Bourke (far left, second row) in Brothers’ 1968 premiership side which was coached by Brian Davies
Bourke’s first grand final appearance was 1966, when his front rowers were Australian representative, Peter Gallagher and future Brothers’ coach, John Lohman. Norths won that match 9-6. The following year Brothers accounted for Norths 6-2 in a tryless match played in front of a record crowd of 31,470, with Gallagher and Lohman again propping Bourke in the scrums.
Brothers did it again in 1968, this time beating Easts 21-4 in front of another record crowd – 36,188. By then Gallagher had retired, but Bourke had another International prop beside him – Dennis Manteit.
Brothers just missed out on the finals in 1969, but won the minor premiership in 1970, when Bourke was called up for Queensland duty after the withdrawal of Test hooker, Brian Fitzsimmons with mumps.
The Courier-Mail’s Jack Reardon wrote that Queensland had a “very capable replacement in John Bourke.”
“Bourke leveled the scrums with Fitzsimmons in the State District Championship Grand Final between Brisbane and Central Queensland, and he is a very useful forward away from the scrums,” Reardon wrote.
The 1970 Great Britain outfit was the last touring side from the UK to win a Test series in Australia, and the match against Queensland was their last before the First Test at Lang Park. Britain won 32-7, scoring six tries to one in polished display.
“Great Britain had a tremendous weight advantage in the forwards, and their lock, Doug Laughton was able to stand out with the backs throughout the second half,” Reardon wrote. “Nevertheless, Queensland hooker, Johnny Bourke, was still able to win scrums 12-11 over Britain’s Peter ‘Flash’; Flanagan.”
In a club match later that year, against Souths Magpies at Lang Park, Brothers lost 27-18, despite Bourke giving his side a two to one share of possession from the scrums.
“Bourke, Len Dittmar and Reg Cannon were 80 minute triers in a beaten team, in a stirring match, played before 15,000 people,” Reardon wrote.
“John was as tough as they come,” said Cannon. “He was a target because of his hooking ability, and took a hammering. He did his shoulder on one occasion and it kept popping out. Sometimes he would put it back in himself, or he would get us to help him put it back, and then he would get on with things. Away from football, he was such a giver. Nothing was too much trouble for him.”
Bourke joined Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club in 1961, along with a host of other Brothers’ players, and excelled in a number of areas, in particular the surf ski, where he had good results in branch and state events.
After a period in the State Public Service, John established a successful insurance practice, and one of his clients was Reg Cannon, who went to John to insure the pubs he ran. When John moved from Samford to Cotton Tree on the Sunshine Coast, he became a member of the local Men of League Foundation (now Family of League) committee, and gave generously of his time, at events, and through welfare visits. He also joined Headland Golf Club, where he was a popular member.
John Bourke’s funeral was held on May 3 at Maroochydore. He is survived by his wife, Frances; two daughters, a son; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
