By Casey OÇonnor
Laura Geitz and Wayne Bennett both credit much of their success in both the sporting arena and life
to the grounding they received growing up in the Allora community.
The pair were back in that community on Saturday with a large crowd gathering to see them named Allora Sporting Immortals.
Family and friends, many who had travelled long distances, gathered to honour the pair.
Laura Geitz spoke of the amazing support she received from the community during her the highs and
lows of her career.
“Growing up in this community taught me, resilience and the lessons I learned here held me in good stead throughout my career,” she said.
Geitz said being name an Allora immortal was a truly humbling experience. The champion
netball player, who did it all in her career, has also been immortalized with a bonze statuette which
sits outside the Allora Regional Sports Museum.
She joined former SDRC mayor Tracy Dobie who returned as Mayor for a brief moment at the unveiling – an event which was to take place on March 2020 but fell victim to the Covid pandemic.
Former NRL star Shane Webcke was MC for the event and spoke from the heart when introducing
his former coach and mentor Wayne Bennett.
Webcke said the master coach stood by him when he was prepared to walk away from rugby league after the death of his father.
“He picked me up and put me back together and I will be forever grateful” choosing to speak of some of
his personal journey with Bennett rather than his multitude of accomplishments,” the champion footballer told the crowd.
Bennett also spoke of the benefits he has carried all his life as a result of the care and kindness and
often tough love her received from the community.
Bennett’s tough life as a young child has been well documented and on Saturday he singled out a
couple of people for special mention.
One was John O’Connor, a former meat inspector at the Warwick Bacon Factory when Bennett was trying to better himself. O’Connor, no relation, is now in his 90’s and was front and centre among the well-wishers. Bennett credits O’Connor with giving him the tools and the incentive to join the police force.
He also made special mention of the Basil and Betty Phelan and their daughters. Present in the
crowd was one of those Phelan girls Mary McLucas who has remained staunch friends with Bennett
throughout their lives.
They say it takes a village to raise a child and in Bennet’s mind it all of Allora had a stake in his
upbringing and subsequent success.
Bennett of course also touched on the State of Origin win by Queensland highlighting what a win like
the previous Wednesday night does for small communities all across the State and the flow on effect
it has on young footballers in years to come when they are selected to wear the maroon jersey.
