The New South Wales Rugby League pays tribute to the late Noel Charters, who passed away this week at the age of 83.
Originally from Forbes, Charters first came to Gilgandra in 1955 to help rebuild the town after devastating floods swept through the state that year. He never left and became a great figure in the town and in rugby league.
He was a member of the 1956 premiership winning Gilgandra side which had future St George and Test winger Johnny King as ball boy. Charters would go on to serve Gilgandra as a player and successful coach, winning many premierships, as well as taking an active role as an official that led to a lifetime in the game’s administration.
He served a long stint as President of the CRL’s Group 14 as well as Western Division, as well as contributing to the head body as a manager of several Country representative teams and as a member of the CRL Boundaries Committee.
Charters’ tireless efforts and tremendous enthusiasm for the game at all levels saw him awarded Life Membership of Gilgandra, as well as Group 14, Western Division and the Country Rugby League, and subsequently NSWRL.
Perhaps the most eloquent tribute to a great rugby league man is the number of quality players who have emerged from western NSW during his lifetime association with the game, and many of them would cite his influence on their success.
On behalf of all rugby league supporters we offer our condolences to the family and friends of Noel Charters.
Thanks to Castlereagh RL President Bryson Luff for his assistance in compiling this obituary.
