General News
9 July, 2026
Great contributor’s memory honoured at inaugural Peter Cavanagh Under 12 Carnival
Originally the Zone 5 Rugby League Carnival, the mixture of teams from Wynnum-Manly to Lightning Ridge for much of the competition’s 60 years, had been defined by one man. Now, that carnival has been named after Peter Cavanagh, and in its inaugural year under its new name it was a fitting commemoration of a man whose whole life was about community, club rugby, and coaching not only good players, but good people.
On the first day, the third game for Wattles was against Lightning Ridge.
Before the game, some of Peter Cavanagh’s former charges from the 2025 carnival spoke to the Clifton Courier about what it meant to be back this year without Peter.
“Pretty sad he’s not here, just for this last carnival. But it’s an honour to be able to play in his carnival,” young Nate said.
Nate and his team mates had been coached by Peter at the last Under 12 carnival, now named after the beloved late coach.
According to another player, Hunter, Peter was always encouraging the boys to play at their best.
“He was very helpful, he’d always have feedback for you. Always try to get you playing better,” Hunter said.
Peter’s brother Pat played in the first Zone 5 Carnival in 1966 and Peter joined a few years later.
The rest really is history.
Peter loved the carnivals, he started in 1968/69 as a player, he loved them.
In the clubhouse through-out of this year’s carnival, was a display of teams he coached, jerseys, and life memberships he’d been awarded.
Included was a photo of the 1999 Central Downs team with Peter as coach and Pat’s son Ben one of the players.
This year, Ben and his family came for Peter’s funeral, but also so that his son Olley could play in the same carnival in which his grandad, great-uncle, and Dad all played.
The game against Lightning Ridge was an electric showing from Wattles.
The U12’s showed some great defensive work, making Lightning Ridge work hard for every metre.
Tommy Saville was particularly impressive with a hat trick and some tough defence in the centre of the park.
But the real standout moment, which no doubt would have made Peter Cavanagh smile, was when Lightning Ridge needed a player and one of the Wattles on the bench, without hesitating, jogged over and grabbed a jersey.
For Pat, this was everything his brother embodied as a coach.
“For Peter it was all about friendships, building community, connections,” he said.
“Always about those friendships and guiding young kids, he wanted to coach good people as well as good players.”
Joseph Ramsay was named man of the match for Wattles.
After the game against Lightning Ridge, where a dominant Wattles performance ended in a draw, Ben and Olley Cavanagh presented the other Wattles players with jerseys from Olley’s club in Townsville, to say thanks for letting him come and play in his great-uncle’s old team, with players Peter had coached, in a carnival he had help build and cultivate.
For Shelley Duggan, Wattles’ Life Member and Peter’s right hand lady for many years, it’s a fitting way to remember Peter.
“Amazing, its totally deserved, he put his whole life into this sport,” she said.
“This carnival was his baby, his absolute pride and joy.”
Shelley’s late husband, Jack, had been Peter’s best mate since they were little tackers.
When Jack became ill, Peter would visit him two times a week according to Shelley.
They’d talk footy, and give Shelley a chance to get out and do some jobs.
Allora is littered with similar stories of Peter’s care for his friends, family and community.
George Gall had helped Peter coach for about 20 years.
He told us how it wasn’t just Wattles who’d be thinking about Peter.
“For the Wattles and these players who knew Peter, its pretty special,” George said.
“And not only for the club, but all these coaches from these other teams that are here, they knew Peter.”
For young Olley Cavanagh, it was a pretty special day getting to don his great-uncle’s green and gold at his namesake carnival.
“It felt, good and special,” he said, keeping his cards close to his chest.
The Peter Cavanagh Under 12 43kg Carnival ran from Wednesday the 1st of July to Friday the 3rd.
In its first year under its new name, the event proved a fitting legacy for a man who gave so much to his community.
Peter’s funeral was held in St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Allora at 10.30am yesterday (Tuesday).
