‘Played strong, done good’: Rugby League history panel

Join us for a conversation about the history of rugby league with Alan Tongue and Katrina Fanning. The conversation will be facilitated by Tim Gavel and will look at some of the changes and big milestones which have happened in professional rugby league over the last 30 years.

Entry is free to this event but bookings are essential.

The talk will be available to view live online via the Library's Facebook and YouTube pages. You do not need to book a ticket to watch the event online.

This event is presented in association with the Tom Brock Bequest.

About Alan Tongue

Throughout his stellar 13-year Rugby League career, Alan Tongue played representative football and captained the Canberra Raiders for 5 seasons. Alan tallied more than 200 matches, was named Lock of the Year and Captain of the Year at the 2008 Dally M Awards. Since retiring in 2011, he has worked with a range of charity and community programs and was named ACT Australian of the Year in 2017.

About Katrina Fanning

For over 25 years, Wiradjuri woman Katrina Fanning has lived and breathed rugby league. Following a successful career as a player, she was appointed manager of the Indigenous Women's All Stars team, Chairperson of the Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council, and President of the Canberra and Australian Women's Rugby League Associations.

In 2014, she was named Canberra Woman of the Year, and ACT NAIDOC Person of the Year. Then, in 2019, Katrina was the third woman to be appointed to the Canberra Raiders Board of Directors. She brings enormous management capability and experience to the appointment – having held senior government roles with Centrelink, Aboriginal Hostels and the Department of Education, and Employment and Workplace Relations to Board membership experience. Katrina is also Director of Coolamon Advisors, an Indigenous majority-owned and managed consultancy.

About Tim Gavel

As a sports commentator with ABC Grandstand for over 30 years, Tim Gavel has called a range of sports including NRL, Super Rugby, Wallabies, Rowing World Cups, Rugby World Cups, Socceroos, Matildas, Opals, Boomers, WNBL, NBL, International Netball, Men's and Women's One Day International cricket, Big Bash, World Volleyball League for Fox Sports, Rowing World Cup and National Championships for Fox Sports and the 2000 Paralympics.

image caption: New South Wales Rugby Football League, By laws and rules together with laws of the game, 1908, nla.obj-52863578