The “Moree on the Gold Coast” reunion will bring together hundreds of past and present Moree residents, including players from two rugby league teams that established set-in-stone benchmarks more than 40 years ago.

Moree High School’s 1973 open-weight team, winner of that year’s coveted University Shield grand final, will scrum down at the Broadbeach Tavern with players from the undefeated 1968 under-17s Group 5 outfit – “Eddie 

Lumsden’s Boys”.

Reunion co-organiser Mike Hadfield said the University Shield team had held get-

togethers in the past – the most recent 10 years ago – but this was the first time all players would be together.

“The 1973 Uni Shield win is a very special piece of Moree’s sporting history, and having the team together on the Gold Coast will be very special as well,” Hadfield said.

“Several of the players went on to play league in Sydney and team captain Terry Quinn is now CEO of NSW Country Rugby League.

“An interesting sidelight to the 1973 final is that halfback Harry Allen had the choice to play with NSW against Papua New Guinea or Moree High against Forbes High –  two big games were scheduled at different venues,” he said.

“Harry’s decision to stick with Moree and play in the Uni Shield opened the door for (future)

Canterbury-Bankstown legend Steve Mortimer to take his spot for NSW and, as they say, the rest is history.”

The under-17s team went through the 1968 season undefeated and former coach, St George legend and Test player Eddie Lumsden, now 77, will be on hand to help celebrate.

“There are plenty of good memories – memories you can’t buy,” Lumsden said.

Lumsden, who played in nine of St George’s incredible 11 consecutive grand-final wins between 1956 and 1966, says hard work and dedication as well as discipline and respect were key elements to the team’s success. “They were a good team – undefeated – in a very good year, and they trained pretty hard,” Lumsden said.

Team centre Morris “Mo” Meppem said some players had not seen each other since the late 1960s.

While former players and their families as well as coaches and supporters will reminisce on 

Saturday night at the aptly-named Liars’ Bar, it is expected that a further few hundred past and present Moree residents will pack Mudgeeraba Showground the 

following day.

“Organisers of all three reunions are overwhelmed with the response,” Hadfield said.

“There will be people coming from New Zealand and Moree’s cycling champion Gary Sutton is flying in from Holland to attend Sunday’s reunion.”

The Moree reunion began 22 years ago as an annual event for Moree residents who had moved to the northern coastal regions of NSW and southern Queensland.

Further information is available on the Moree and District Reunion (Gold Coast) Facebook page or by phoning Mike Hadfield on 0417 482 359.