Larry Raleigh is pictured here with his wife Gerry, celebrating his 62nd birthday with friends
Brian Collison and Michael, Jessica and Joshua Scholte
Former Newtown Jets centre Larry “Bluey” Raleigh hasn’t been in the best of health of late as he battles prostate and bowel cancer at home in Gilgandra with wife Gerry.
Larry was recently visited by Tony Musgrave, another Men of League member living in the Central West NSW town, on Larry’s his 62nd birthday and presented him with a Men of League cap and polo shirt.
The Raleigh family name is synonymous to North Queensland Rugby League. Larry’s father, Lawrence ‘Bluey’ Raleigh is a Life Member of the Queensland and North Queensland Rugby Leagues and he represented North Queensland.
Larry’s son, also Lawrence, played at St George for seven seasons from 1992 to 1998 and enjoyed a six year stint in the French League and a season playing Rugby League in the USA.
The Raleigh families sporting abilities were not limited to the Rugby League field, Larry’s brother Vincent served a period as the Australian Swimming Coach.
Larry grew up in North Queensland and started his first grade career with Brothers Townsville in 1966. In 1967 he moved to Central Townsville where he stayed for two years. During this time, Larry was spotted playing for Townsville in the Foley Shiled and was spotted by the Newtown Jets who were scouting the North Queensland region. Larry was offered a contract and moved to Sydney with fellow North Queenslanders Lionel Williamson, Joe Vasta and Greg Banderia,all to play with Newtown in 1969.
Larry wore the famous Blue Bags jersey from 1969 to 1971 and played in Newtown’s reserve grade premiership team that defeated Easts in 1970. In 1972, Larry signed on as captain coach of Group Ten team Portland and he represented Western Division before returning to Central Townsville in 1973 as captain coach. He again played Foley Shield for Townsville.
Larry has fond memories of his days with Newtown and rates Chicka Moore, Charlie Renilson and Bobby Carney as the best players he played along side.
These days, Larry is enjoying the easy life in Gilgandra and is an extremely proud and loving grandfather of three year old Candace.
We wish him all the best with his recovery.