After a two year wait the Laura Geitz Statuette was finally unveiled on Saturday with the help of Tracy Dobie who was Mayor in 2020. A gust of wind arrived just as the unveiling was about to happen, hence the fun photo. The super coach and local Allora hero Wayne Bennett sat by in his comfortable arm chair.

Great day for a celebration

With good weather and a bumper crowd, Saturday’s unveiling of the Laura Geitz statuette at the Allora regional Sports Museum could not have gone better.

For the morning, the town wound back the clock to 21st March, 2020 – the date when the official unveiling was to have occurred – and the date on the plaque.

Fortunately, those named on the plaque were all on hand and the Mayor of Southern Downs on the day, Tracy Dobie joined with Laura in lifting the veil.

A number of presentations were made to two declared Allora’s sporting immortals – Laura Geitz and Wayne Bennett and they, along with Master of Ceremonies gave entertaining and inspiring speeches which were well received by the crowd.

Among the presentations were a grab bag of memories for Wayne Bennett from the Principal of St Patrick’s School, Keith Blaikie, and a presentation from Allora State School to its former student, Laura Geitz.

Prior to the ceremony finishing, one-time Member for Darling Downs and staunch advocate of all things Allora, Tom McVeigh, presented the original O’Shea Cup, which was introduced for rugby league competition in 1938, to the Allora Regional Sports Museum.

More photos in the digital edition.

This article appeared in the Allora Advertiser, 20 July 2022.

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