WESTERN SUBURBS MAGPIES HALL OF FAME

The Black & White Ball was a glittering affair hosted by the Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club was held on Friday 30th May 2008 in the Grand Harbour Ballroom at the Star City Casino. This prestigious event was to celebrate Wests Magpies centenary and also the establishment and induction of Wests Legends into the new Wests Magpies Hall of Fame. Master of Ceremonies, Mike Bailey did an excellent job in keeping the event rolling with first class entertainment being provided by the extremely popular Leo Sayer and also the 32 piece NSW Police Band. The legends inducted into the Hall of Fame were announced by Wests Chairman, Kevin Hammond and presented with their awards by Wests Magpies Team of the Century Coach, Roy Masters. The inductees were:

The original 2008 Magpies Hall of Famers are:

Keith Holman. No one would be surprised that the great Keith Holman should be the first Magpie announced as a member of the Magpies Hall of Fame. After 203 First Grade games from 1948 to 1961, coaching the side to the AMCO Cup in 1977 and a lifetime of contribution to the club Keith Holman is Western Suburbs.

Jim Abercrombie. Jim was there at the beginning, attending the founding meeting of the club on Feb 4 1908 and being elected to the inaugural committee. He also played in Wests very first game against Balmain and scored Wests very first goals in First Grade in the following match against Souths. Jim played all nine matches of the inaugural season and at the end of the season was rewarded with membership on the first Kangaroo tour to England. Abercrombie became Wests first international playing the first two tests against England. Jim's award was accepted on his behalf by his daughter.

Peter Dimond. A feared winger during the 60's Peter Dimond played 155 First Grade games for the Magpies from 58-67 scoring 83 tries. Adored by the Wests faithful for hardness as much as his skill Dimo played 10 tests and four Grand Finals for the Magpies (58, 61, 62, 63). His award was accepted on his behalf by former Magpie First Grader and brother Bobby Dimond.

Arthur Summons. The Magpies will always have a special place in the iconography of Rugby League thanks to Arthur Summons. The famous image of 'The Gladiators' capturing opposing Captains Norm Provan and Summons in an embrace at the end of the 1963 Grand Final has come to define the spirit of the game and continues to this day to be venerated as a symbol of all that's great about Rugby League through it's use on the NRL Premiership Trophy. After switching to League from Union Summons proved himself to be a very fine half or 5/8 in the club and test arenas and his ability was rewarded by being named the Captain Coach of the great 1963 Kangaroo touring side.

Tommy Raudonikis. He's had many nicknames over the years, but simply mention 'Tommy' to any league fan and they will instantly know who you are talking about. Raudonikis was a Magpie institution from 1969-79. Epitomising the 'Fibros' era of the club Tommy had plenty of skill, but it was his toughness and unmatched will to win that made him a hero at Lidcombe and feared by opponents. Virtually unchallenged for the Australian No. 7 jersey for a decade Raudonikis played 201 First Grade games for the Magpies and returned to coach the club in 1995-1999. Tommy sent a special message via video and his award was accepted on his behalf by John Coote.

Noel Kelly. No Magpies Hall of Fame could possibly exist without Ned. Equally at home at Hooker or Prop at club or test level Kelly was a hard man on the field and a larrikin off it. The Australian Team of the Century Hooker is every Magpie's favourite Queenslander. The young Ipswitch star had already established himself as a Kangaroo tourist before he joined Wests in 1961. Once here he became the backbone of the Magpies until his retirment in 1969. He became the first forward to make three Kangaroo tours in 1967. Ned was selected in the presitgious Australian Rugby League Team of the Century in 2008.

Induction of further Wests Magpies legends into the Wests Magpies Hall of Fame will now become an Annual Event.

Wests Forever!