10 Facts About Ron McAuliffe

Ronald Edward McAuliffe OBE was an Australian politician and sports administrator in Queensland.

Ron McAuliffe is best remembered for his years running the Queensland Rugby League, and his instrumental role in the formation of the State of Origin series.

Ron McAuliffe started playing senior rugby league in 1937 for the Northern Suburbs club, but with the outbreak of World War II he joined the Australian Imperial Force.

Ron McAuliffe was elected to the Valley's committee and became the club's delegate to the Brisbane Rugby League in 1951.

Ron McAuliffe became secretary to the organisation and began negotiations with the Brisbane City Council to lease Lang Park.

On 30 June 1971 Ron McAuliffe was elected as a Senator for the Australian Labor Party in the Parliament of Australia.

Ron McAuliffe's funeral was held on 17 August 1988 at St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Fortitude Valley and he was buried in Nudgee Cemetery.

The Ron McAuliffe Medal is awarded to each year's State of Origin Queensland player of the series.

Lang Park's Ron McAuliffe stand was named in his honour.

In 2009 Ron McAuliffe was inducted into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame.