By Ron Lane
IF ONE is to be brutally honest, when someone takes on the position of president of a country or for that matter a club that is in turmoil, then there is no escaping the fact that something that can only be described as PIG virtues are an absolute necessity.
What you may ask are the virtues of PIG? The answer is simple. P stands for Pride, I stands for Integrity and G stands for Gumption.
Harsh, but honest words.
After a quiet meeting with the newly-elected President of Pirates Rugby League Club, Greg Christensen, it became obvious that here was a man who had these virtues in abundance.
Since the early age of eight, this Tewantin local has, along with several other male members of his family, been a member of Pirates Rugby League Club.
Through the many years of good times and bad, his loyalty has never faltered; thus his deep-seated feeling of Pride.
During his young years as a player in the various grades, and in his dealing with club mates while serving Pirates in an administration capacity, his loyalty and honesty has never been questioned; thus his Integrity.
To come through the ranks of management and finally make the decision to accept the nomination for President, and knowing all too well what lays ahead, shows Gumption.
For Greg, it all started in the year 1971 when he made his entrance, kicking and screaming into this world, at the old Cooroy Hospital.
His education was obtained after years as a student of the Noosa District State High School, finally graduating at the end of Year 12.
On entering the work force, he joined the Queensland Government Railways where he worked as a signaller based at Woombye.
Now after working in various jobs such as the construction industry, he operates a delivery service for Mountain Dew Spring Water.
For Greg, the year 1995 was one to remember, for it was during this time that he was to meet a lady Rugby League touch footballer named Jaye Wales; the lady who was to become his wife.
Married in 2000, they are now the proud parents of a two-year-old boy named Ollie.
“Some years ago my wife and her family were involved in the Noosa Nippers, so I suppose you could say that we have both been involved in community affairs,” Greg said.
“My first game of league was in the Under 9, and we played on the old Reid Park Oval at Tewantin, which is now the cricket field. Then the Junior Pirates moved to Cooroy and I played there. When the game in Cooroy got going, sheds were built and our Christensen family played a major part in this project.
“Regarding our club, things really got going in the early ’70s.
“A lot of our blokes, including my family members, were playing in Gympie for Northern Suburbs. They decided in 1974 to approach Mick Plant, a former Sydney A Grader, who was playing for Nambour. They discussed forming a club at Noosa, with him coaching. Then in ’75 it happened. Not only did they form the club, but they also entered the Sunshine Coast Competition, with two teams in A Grade and a reserve; and at the end of the season the A team finished in fourth place.
“However, by 1977 we shocked the Coast Rugby League by not only winning the A Grade, but also the reserve and it was the same coaches; Mick Plant A Grade and Merv Suares Reserve Grade. When you start a new club and achieve those sort of results, it is easy to see why we have become such a proud club,” Greg said.
During this era, the juniors had consolidated in Cooroy, and Greg played there until 1989; it was then that he shifted to Pirate Park and into the senior club.
“For me it was great. A family tradition was starting so I was virtually playing my career surrounded by family in a great club; things couldn’t be better; but for me a year that really sticks out was 2007. We were playing under the great little Sydney half back Noel Goldthorpe. He was our player/coach and we scooped the pool, winning the Minor Premiership, Presidents Cup, Wide Bay Challenge and then the big one, the Grand Final. In the team that day was a 17-year-old named Jake Friend, who right as we speak is in the Australian team touring England. That year was an incredible experience.”
Under Goldthorpe it was a golden era for Pirates. They won three premierships and were runners-up in another.
For the Christensens their involvement continued, with one of the boys Ken, having three of his sons taking to the field, proudly wearing the Pirates colours, and others sitting on management.
“For us this is a really great achievement. This season we now have three family members on the front table (management committee), Ben as Vice President, Gary as Treasurer and me as President; and the thing that makes me really proud, is that we are all life members.
“However, without the support and encouragement of our senior veteran members we would not be here, holding the positions that we do. My thanks to them for their support.”
Another thing that Greg acknowledges is the fact that they have a really great ladies group.
“I look for a balanced club and the ladies have been fantastic. Just to name a few we have Sue O’Grady, Claire Robertson, Robyn Wales, Lexie Mawn, Sue Arnold and many others. With all these people plus our life members, ten of who attended our Annual General Meeting, moving around the club I can feel our pride and traditions becoming strong again.”
Since his retirement as a player in 2008, Greg has worked in several areas and has served on management. It is these times that have made him fully aware of the fact that sometimes he will have to make hard decisions and he adds, “Sometimes they may not be very popular; but it has to be done.”
His main goal is of course to re-establish the A Grade team and he acknowledges it won’t be easy.
“Then I want to create an atmosphere of the senior club and the juniors all in together. This will do wonders for the family environment.”
The appointment of coaches is also at the top and management has made arrangements for the advertising of these positions to commence this week.
“One thing that I am grateful for is the ongoing sponsorship of our local RSL Club. Others, who have supported us through the years, also have our thanks. I am really looking forward to meeting up with them and continuing our friendship.”
As we sat and talked, he spoke not of himself, but of the club; his playing days wearing the Pirates colours, the achievements and hard times, the players who have gone on to bigger things, and the workers who have seen it all, and are still a Pirate.
From his remarks, it became apparent that here was a young man whose feet are firmly on the ground.
Above all, someone who also possesses the virtues, Pride, Integrity and Gumption, required to make the sporting community acknowledge that Greg Christensen, President of Pirates Rugby League Club, is the man for the job. Above all, he is definitely, one of Our People.
