Union club remembers good mate

RUGBY UNION: A spirit as big as Malcolm “Nutty” Nutt’s should never be forgotten.

Goondiwindi Emu life member Geoff Makim described

Nutt

(pictured) as an “unsung hero”.

“He put that little touch of something better into country rugby on and off the field,” he said.

Nutt joined the Goondiwindi club in 1968 after being transferred to work as a Caltex Fuel Representative.

At the time he was an aspiring Bank of Queensland (now Reds) State Representative player as a winger or three quarter back.

He also played two successful season with Churchie’s first XV and a season of senior club rugby with the GPS premiership team.

He would travel into Brisbane from Goondiwindi twice a week for pre-season training until he was eventually selected to play for the state team.

“All these chaps got was a nice lot of beer after the game,” Makim said.

“But they played for the glory and honour of playing for their state.”

Makim said Nutt brought a certain professionalism and expertise to the Goondiwindi club.

“It was just above what we had been normally playing here in the bush,” Makim said.

Under Nutt’s guidance the Emus went on to win their first Risdon Cup and also hosted the Queensland Country and Fijian Rugby tour.

“He was the one who surely put the club on the map in 1969,” Makim said.

“I didn’t want to see his contribution to the club forgotten.”

“I take comfort out of the fact I can put pen to paper and remember him for the person he was.”