Illawarra League Great Loved Sport To The End
Illawarra Mercury
Monday January 12, 2004
THE Illawarra's first state rugby league representative, Frederick ``Buck" Buchanan, died on Wednesday aged 95.
Mr Buchanan came to Wollongong in 1928 as a 19-year-old teacher and was selected to play for NSW against Queensland in 1932.
He taught at Wollongong Public School for six years in the first posting of a distinguished teaching career. While he left Wollongong Public in 1933, Mr Buchanan had a strong connection with the Illawarra, returning in 2001 for his first school's 150th anniversary.
``He was so excited about coming back for that day. He had a lovely day," Mr Buchanan's daughter Annette Polman said yesterday.
``His first love was teaching, he was a teacher all his life. He loved seeing children achieving and learning. He had so many people come up to him when we came back to Wollongong, it was a great thrill for him."
Born in Murwillumbah in 1908, Mr Buchanan was one of 10 children in a farming family. He left home at 17 and travelled by ship to Sydney where he attended teachers' college and played rugby league for Sydney University.
At 19, Mr Buchanan moved to Wollongong for his first posting, continuing his passion for rugby league. As well as coaching at the school, he represented Wollongong in the annual City vs Country match before being selected for his state.
Mr Buchanan was also a keen member of the Surf Life Saving Association at North Beach.
In 1934 he married Nell Parsons and the couple moved to Waverley, where Mr Buchanan taught at Crown Street Public School.
He played one season of first grade with the Sydney Roosters, a club he continued to support throughout his life.
``Last year I sat with him while the Roosters played in the grand final. You couldn't move him from his chair when they were playing. He was terribly upset when they lost," Mrs Polman said.
Mr Buchanan returned to the South Coast in 1937 to take up the headmaster's role at Batemans Bay school. He played with and coached the town's rugby league team and last year was recognised as one of the best players the town had seen.
His career continued with postings as headmaster at schools throughout NSW. Mr Buchanan retired in 1960 but maintained an active lifestyle, taking up bowls and pursuing his interest in fishing.
``Every country town we moved to had a good river, and he loved to fish," Mrs Polman said. ``He loved bowls and golf and he played everything to win. He was very competitive. He was a very sporting man. Up until last year I would still taking him swimming to Monavale Pool. No-one could believe he was 95."
Mr Buchanan's wife Nell died in 1999, aged 90, and his daughter Helene died in 2002. He is survived by his daughter Annette and her husband Peter, Helene's children John and Vicki and their families.
Mr Buchanan will be farewelled at a funeral today at midday in the Chapel at Parsons Funeral Home, 34 Belmore St, Wollongong.
© 2004 Illawarra Mercury
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