John O’Reilly

John O’Reilly

oreilly1This website/blog owes its existence to John O’Reilly.  In the 1950s he made our small town football the dramatic heart of our lives. Women were seduced by his mellifluous tones, children were drawn in by his rich word pictures.  No one has done it better.

My mother hated the drinking and gambling that she associated with many of the men of rugby league – but she loved listening to the calls of John O’Reilly on 2LF.  On Saturday afternoons we would gather around  the radio.

Ray Warren has written:

I’d grown up listening to John O’Reilly calling the Maher Cup. I still think he was the best footy caller I’ve ever heard on radio. He had a silky-smooth voice, and he was incredibly accurate. …… I wanted to follow John to the big smoke. I just hoped I’d one day be as good as he was.

ABC commentator Glen Mitchell recalls (Wagga Daily Advertiser, 19.02.2011):

O’Reilly’s greatest piece of advice to young callers like me was, “call the score often and remember those not at the match are depending on you for all the details, so when there is a break tell them who scored tries and kicked goals. Tell them what’s happened, not what you think.”

When I watch sport these days I watch without sound, because most commentators haven’t followed his advice.

Below is a slightly edited version of an fine eulogy given in Parliament House following  his death in 2006.  The speaker is Paul Gibson, who like John was born in Young  and retained a close relationship with the people of the town. Before entering politics Gibson was a quite successful rugby league player.

He was a man of many talents. Most people will remember him as one of the greatest sports broadcasters this country has ever had – but there was so much more to him. He was a very Christian person, honest to a fault and, as I recall, during his heyday in television and radio, very humble….

A young John O'Reilly. 2LF's brilliant football broadcaster.

Just beginning his career: Image source: http://www.swsradio.com.au/2LF/2LFHistory.pdf

John O’Reilly was born at Young. Upon leaving school he took up a cadetship with the local radio station, 2LF Young. He developed his radio skills at a very early age and soon found himself sitting on the cold and often very wet sidelines of Group 9 rugby league grounds, calling the famous Maher Cup with his old colleagues Errol Eastley and Billy Dennis.

In those days it used to be said that the Maher Cup was almost as famous as the Melbourne Cup, and the call just had to get through. Never mind that the Gundagai Bridge was three or four feet under water and players could not get onto the ground until 5 o’clock in the afternoon – John O’Reilly, the Maher Cup caller, was always on the sidelines, waiting to call the game.

He married a lass from Cootamundra, the love of his life, Dulcie Chapman. In 1960 Dulcie, John and their young son, Timothy, moved to Maroubra, where John began a 30-year career with the ABC.  John O’Reilly had a most successful career at the ABC; he was the voice of rugby league and undertook four or five Great Britain tours with the Kangaroos. He made many friends on those tours.

The ABC expected John to be an all-round caller. I remember him calling the Davis Cup with Adrian Quist for many years. He was also there when tennis player Rod Laver played his first professional game. John called 10-pin bowling – he called everything. There are probably not too many sports that John O’Reilly did not cover in his time.

Some well-known co-commentators in those days were the legendary Reg Gasnier, Jimmy Lisle, Keith Barnes, Kevin Ryan and Les Johns.  Other co-commentators were his great friends Tiger Black, Frank Hyde, Nugget May, Trevor Allan and many more.

After retiring from the ABC at the age of 62 John took up another great passion, bowling. He played bowls at a top level for many years.

John was a good family man, a Christian, a man of very sober
habits who loved to laugh and tell jokes. Every year I host a reunion in Parliament House for the people of Young. John and Dulcie attended that reunion for many years. John was not only nature’s gentleman, and very humble, but also a great friend. John was a great Australian talent.

At his eulogy his brother Freddy spoke of how John came to have his unique style of calling. He was one of the old callers.  As there was no television in those days, John’s voice was the eyes of people who were listening to a game, a fight, or whatever he was broadcasting. One day I asked him how he came to have that unique style. He replied that he loved to listen to Billy Boyd [who] was the great Hopalong Cassidy. John always said that the greatest fight caller was Cyril Angles. John often spoke about the Vic Patrick and Freddie Dawson fights.

On one occasion John painted the picture by saying:

Patrick shuffles forward, his right hand glove flicking the face of Dawson, his left hand poised like a scorpion’s tail ready to strike the killing blow but the wily American, ducking and weaving, counters with a flurry of jabs to the solar plexus followed by a right cross to the side of Patrick’s face—whose knees buckle momentarily.

That was how he called. He could paint the picture for everyone.

He played football with Christian Brothers College of Young with the likes of locals Keith Bowls, Don McKillop, Ray Maher and Brian Clarke. As Freddy O’Reilly said, “John is somebody who everyone loved…”

John O'Reilly with Eric Kuhn at a reunion at Harden.

John O’Reilly with Eric Kuhn at a reunion at Harden.

Please share your memories of John O’Reilly, by commenting here.  I am trying to find some audio and video that we may be able to load on the site.  If anyone has photographs, particularly of John sitting at the table on the sideline calling a Maher Cup match I would be so grateful.

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3 thoughts on “John O’Reilly

  1. hi their, my name is mark woolford, john was my great uncle Will try and c if anyone has any photos and audio

  2. Hi Neil is there a book available on the maher cup if there is can you let me know you should of wrote one with your excellent website best i have ever came across keep safe to you and your family regards Jim Curran

    • Hi Jim. There are some books. http://mahercup.com.au/about-the-site/ I am also writing one.
      Any information about the many Currans who played Maher Cup would be of interest to me. The family seems to have a presence in both Adelong and Temora. Players I have imperfect notes on include: (1) Hector Curran, Temora – 1923-1924; also recorded as Herbert; (2) Hilton ‘Snowy’ Curran, Tumut – 1935-37, St. George 1938; (3) Jim Curran, Temora – 1953; brother of Ted Curran; (4), Jim Curran, Barmedman; ex Temora? (same as (3?)); married Jim ‘Nipper’ Lawrence’s sister; (5) Leo ‘Blue’ Curran, Temora – 1929-1935; ; b.1908-d.23.2.1964; later a top Group 9 referee; brother of Eric; (6) Eric Curran, Temora – 1926-1927, 1929, 1931-1939, b.1906-d. 28.7.1965; railway worker; represented Riverina; brother of Leo; later also referee (7) Ted Curran; Temora – 1923-1927; moved to Adelong where he had the Commercial Hotel in the 1930s and 40s; father of Ted Curran Jr.; (8) Ted Curran, Temora -1952-1957; from Adelong; Captain 1956; Thirroul 1958; son of Ted Curran Sr.; brother of Jim Curran. Neil: neiljpollock@gmail.com 0448-440-110

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