GROWING up with a rugby league Immortal has spawned life long friendships and a myriad of memories for Fingal Bay resident Peter Raper.
The father of three enjoys the Port Stephens lifestyle with his beloved wife Kerrie and you’ll find the couple either playing a round of golf at Nelson Bay, taking a surf at Fingal Beach or unwinding at the local Fingal Bay Sports Club.
Padstow girl Kerrie has a water polo and physical culture background but rugby league has played a significant part in their 44 years of marriage.
“We have made life long friendships through the game and have embraced the charming coastal village community that Fingal Bay has to offer” quipped Kerrie.
Their three sons Brent, Gavin and Harrison carried the famous Raper name through their junior sport with Gavin representing the Canterbury club in S.G Ball Cup.
When Peter Raper’s eldest brother was touted as a football genius and the best lock forward to have ever laced on a boot, childhood days spent together were definitely atypical.
Johnny “Chook” Raper was an all time great who found fame with the champion St George rugby league team that won eight consecutive NSWRL Sydney premierships between 1959 and 1966.
He was one of the four original rugby league Immortals along with fellow greats Bob Fulton, Clive Churchill and Reg Gasnier and played a record 39 Test matches for Australia in his heyday.
Raper, a former police officer who passed away four years ago at the age of 82 after a battle with dementia, was one of the game’s most decorated players.
After an illustrious career, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1985 and captained Australia to victory over France in the 1968 World Cup Final.
Nicknamed “Chook”, he was later inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame, the Kangaroos Team of the Century, and named one of Australia’s 100 Greatest Players.
A Camperdown Dragons junior, Johnny made his first-grade debut with the Newtown Bluebags in 1957 at 18, represented Sydney and NSW Colts the following year, and then joined St George.
His defence and ball skills were central to the Dragons’ dominance during their unprecedented eleven-year premiership reign, including three Kangaroos tours of England and France.
He finished his career in Newcastle, captaining and coaching Western Suburbs Rosellas to a premiership in 1970, before retiring in 1974 after a stint with the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs.
The Raper family have been synonymous with the game of rugby league for more than five decades.
68 year old Peter and twin brother Gerard are the youngest of nine Raper siblings – some nineteen years Johnny’s junior.
Peter, a crafty hooker, made two first grade appearances with Newtown back in 1977 before a serious shoulder injury curtailed his career.
Gerard made three top grade appearances with Canterbury.
Elder brothers Ron and Maurie were prominent players in their own right with lock forward Ron a Canterbury legend who played 168 matches for the Berries and Maurie, a skilful five eighth with Penrith and Cronulla.
Two of Johnny’s sons Stuart and Aaron also played first grade with the Sharks.
Peter, who grew up in Revesby, played his junior football with the St Christopher’s Panania club from the age of six and has treasured memories of a fascinating childhood.
Parties were legendary at Chook’s Revesby home and featured the likes of The Delltones and Little Pattie.
As a nine year old Peter recalls Johnny inviting the 1966 Great Britain Lions rugby league touring team to his home for a drink and also meeting St George legends like the incomparable Gasnier, Graeme Langlands, Norm Provan, Billy Smith, Brian Clay and Ian Walsh.
He also vividly remembers at age six watching big brother “Chook” carve up the Poms with a majestic performance in the Kangaroos historic 50-12 Second Test victory at Swinton to seal Australia’s first ever Ashes series win on British soil.
By Chris KARAS
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
