Grahame Buckley
Grahame Arthur Buckley (1957–2016) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s.
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Grahame Arthur Buckley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | 4 June 1957 Sydney | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 3 March 2016 Lake Cathie, New South Wales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Lock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Whiticker/Hudson |
Playing career
Buckley was graded at the St. George Dragons from Peakhurst J.R.L.F.C in 1977 and made his first-grade debut for the St George Dragons in Round 10 of the 1978 NSWRFL season. Buckley made 59 first grade appearances in total over, a span of seven seasons, which included being involved in the club's 1979 premiership campaign and was a much loved Dragons player of his era. He was a crowd favourite at Kogarah Jubilee Oval, and is remembered as a man who played above his weight.[1]
He later joined the Illawarra Steelers where he played one game during the 1986 season.[2]
Death
After retiring, he later moved to Wauchope, New South Wales. Grahame Buckley was very well respected in the Wauchope rugby league and surf club community. He unfortunately suffered a fatal heart attack doing surf-boat training on Lake Cathie, New South Wales on 3 March 2016.[3]
Accolades
His surf club, the Wauchope-Bonny Hills Surf Club have named their surf boat rower of the year in his memory.[4]
References
- Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson – The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. 1995 Edition, ISBN 9780732908164
- dragons.com.au 'Vale – Graham Buckley 14 March 2016 https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2016/03/04/vale-grahame-buckley/
- Wauchope Gazette. "Club remembers a mate" 24 March 2016 https://www.wauchopegazette.com.au/story/3808402/club-remembers-a-mate/
- Wauchope Gazette 10 June 2019https://www.wauchopegazette.com.au/story/6208673/successful-surf-club-season-ends-with-presentation-night/