28 Facts About Mark Loane

Dr Mark Edward Loane AM FRANZCO FRACS was born on 11 July 1954 and is an Australian ophthalmic surgeon and former rugby union player.

Mark Loane completed medical school and trained as an ophthalmologist in Queensland, where he continues to practice in both the public and private health systems.

Mark Loane's sporting career has been described by Bret Harris as "the closest thing to a folk hero Queensland has seen", and was noted for his game-winning barging runs.

The son of a judge who moved around Northern Queensland on judicial matters, Mark Loane was born in Ipswich, Queensland.

Mark Loane first attended Gympie Christian Brothers before being sent St Joseph's Nudgee College as a boarder.

Mark Loane is married to Elizabeth Loane and has two daughters.

Mark Loane came to Templeton's attention and was he selected aged eighteen to represent Australia when Tonga toured in 1973.

Mark Loane played in consecutive tour matches 1 through 4 but was injured in the game against London Counties and missed a number of matches including the Scottish and Welsh Tests.

Mark Loane played in eight straight games when he recovered, including the Tests against England and Ireland.

In 1976 Mark Loane played in all three Tests matches against the visiting Fijians and captained Queensland against them.

Mark Loane was selected for the short 1976 Australia rugby union tour of Europe under captain Geoff Shaw.

Two years later when Wales visited Mark Loane again captained Queensland against the visitors and played in two spiteful Test matches, both won.

Mark Loane made the 1978 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand and although Loane was in the incumbent Queensland captain, his state rival Tony Shaw was selected by coach Daryl Haberecht as the squad's captain.

Mark Loane played against Ireland in two Tests and again captained the Queensland state side.

Mark Loane played in six of the seven matches including both Tests, for one win and one loss.

Once he had completed his medical studies in 1980 Mark Loane relocated to South Africa to gain medical experience.

Mark Loane played rugby there in the Currie Cup and was selected as a junior Springbok.

All told Mark Loane captained Australia for six Tests and seven other tour matches between 1979 and 1982.

Mark Loane captained Queensland in many matches against touring sides and in several distinctive wins over NSW from the late 70s until 1982.

Mark Loane graduated from the School of Medicine at the University of Queensland in 1977, before going on to complete his ophthalmology training in Queensland.

Mark Loane proceeded to complete Fellowships in both corneal transplantation and external eye disease and in glaucoma.

Mark Loane is an ophthalmologist and practising surgeon in the Queensland public healthcare system, as well as the private system.

Mark Loane is a Fellow of both the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and the Royal Australian College of Surgeons, and specialises in cataract surgery and glaucoma treatment.

Mark Loane has been involved in a number of charitable organisations and works, including serving as chair for the RANZCO Eye Foundation and as a board member for Guide Dogs Queensland.

Mark Loane is the head of the Cape York Regional Eye Health Project, which provides specialist ophthalmic care to remote Indigenous communities in the Cape York Peninsula.

Mark Loane was awarded Membership of the Order of Australia in 2011 for his service to Indigenous health and to medicine through the project.

On 23 September 2000, Mark Loane was awarded with the Australian Sports Medal for having played more than 50 games for Queensland and for his contribution to the development of rugby in Queensland.

On 26 January 2011, Mark Loane was named as Member of the Order of Australia for service to medicine in the field of ophthalmology, particularly to the indigenous communities of northern Queensland, and as a contributor to the development of sustainable health services.