Baden Powell Wales (1900–1968) was an Australian rugby league administrator with the

St. George Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...

District Rugby League Football Club during its foundation years until his death.

Birth

Born Frederick Charles Sunderland Baden Powell Wales on 17 May 1900 in

Brewarrina, New South Wales Brewarrina (pronounced 'bree-warren-ah'; locally known as "Bre") is a town in north-west New South Wales, Australia on the banks of the Barwon River (New South Wales), Barwon River in Brewarrina Shire. The name Brewarrina is derived from 'burru w ...

, Baden Wales was am major contributor to the

Rugby League club during his lifetime.

Career

Baden Wales had a service record in Rugby League going back well before

were born beginning in 1921. He was a player, a Referee and an Administrator. Wales worked for rugby league for 46 years, beginning as a player - and club secretary - with Arncliffe Waratahs in 1916. He was prominent in the St George Junior League serving as secretary from 1921 to 1927 and President from 1929 to 1931. He was a foundation committee member at St George Rugby League in 1921, a first grade NSWRFL referee from 1927 to 1933 and was elected president of the NSWRFL Referee's Association in 1931. He became

treasurer in 1939 and succeeded

Arthur Justice Arthur "Snowy" Justice (1902–1977) was an Australian rugby league footballer, coach and administrator. He was a rugged for the St George Dragons who made New South Wales state rugby league team, state and Australia national rugby league team ...

as the fifth club secretary in 1947 holding that position until 1955 until he was replaced briefly by

Ken McKenzie Ken McKenzie (August 19, 1923April 9, 2003) was a Canadian newspaper publisher and sports journalist. He served as publicity director of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1946 to 1963. In 1947, he published the first NHL press and radio g ...

. In 1952, he was a foundation member (and secretary) of the St. George Leagues Club. He later became Chairman of the club. In 1955 he was elected a vice president of the NSWRFL, and then deputy chairman. He also spent 21 years as the general secretary of the St. George Cricket Association. A later director of St. George, Horrie Maher wrote of Baden Wales: "He was one of the district's greatest sporting administrators.

Leagues Club will always stand as a monument to his foresight and business acumen".

Accolades

Baden Wales was awarded Life membership of St George Junior league in 1928. Georges River St George District Cricket Association in 1930. St. George in 1954. Wales was also awarded Life Membership of the NSWRFL on 7 December 1954.

Death

Baden Wales died on 18 April 1968, age 67 at

Brighton-Le-Sands, New South Wales Brighton Le Sands (formerly Brighton-le-Sands and also known simply as Brighton or Brighton Beach), is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Brighton Le Sands is located 13 kilometres south of the Sydney centra ...

.Sydney Morning Herald; Death Notice 19/4/1968

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wales, Baden Australian rugby league players Australian rugby league referees Australian rugby league administrators 1900 births 1968 deaths Australian cricket administrators