Mark Loane
Encyclopedia
Mark Edward Loane AM
is an Australian former rugby union
football player, who played 89 games for Queensland
and 28 Tests for the Wallabies
. Described by Bret Harris in his book, The Marauding Maroons, as "the closest thing to a folk hero Queensland has seen", Loane was noted for devastating barging runs and on numerous occasions the game would be won by one of these characteristic bursts.
His role in University
's 1979 Grand Final victory will be remembered. The first Grand Final was drawn after extra time against traditional rivals, Brothers
, and another match was scheduled for the following week to decide the victors. In all, 200 minutes of rugby had to be played before the victory could be celebrated.
Loane captained Queensland to several distinctive wins over NSW
in the 70s and also captained Australia for six tests between 1979 and 1982. His first test as captain was the 1979 match against the All Blacks
at the Sydney Cricket Ground which Australia won 12-6 to take back the Bledisloe Cup
for the first time in 30 years. Loane famously told a fellow Wallaby to get his act together, after the player turned up to a function drunk and poorly dressed, with the line "Mediocrity shits me".
He is married to Elizabeth Loane (née O'Neil) and has two daughters. Loane now works as an ophthalmic
surgeon with a strong interest in the provision of ophthalmic services to indigenous people, particularly those of the Cape York Peninsula
.
In 2007 he was honoured in the third tranche of inductees into the Australian Rugby Union
Hall of Fame.
On 23 September 2000, Loane was awarded with the Australian Sports Medal
for having played more than 50 games for Queenslandand also for having contributed to the development of rugby in Queensland.
On 26 January 2011, Loane was named as Member of the Order of Australia
for service to medicine in the field of ophthalmology, particularly to the Indigenous communities of northern Queensland, and as a contributor to the development of sustainable health services.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
is an Australian former rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
football player, who played 89 games for Queensland
Queensland Rugby Union
The Queensland Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in Queensland. It is a member and founding union of the Australian Rugby Union.-See also:*Queensland Reds*Australian Rugby Union*The Wallabies*Rugby union in Queensland...
and 28 Tests for the Wallabies
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
. Described by Bret Harris in his book, The Marauding Maroons, as "the closest thing to a folk hero Queensland has seen", Loane was noted for devastating barging runs and on numerous occasions the game would be won by one of these characteristic bursts.
His role in University
University of Queensland Rugby Club
The University of Queensland Rugby Club is an Australian rugby union club, based at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Queensland. They currently compete in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition...
's 1979 Grand Final victory will be remembered. The first Grand Final was drawn after extra time against traditional rivals, Brothers
Brothers Old Boys
The Brothers Old Boys are an Australian rugby union club, based in Brisbane,Queensland. The team currently competes in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition against nine of the states best Rugby Union clubs. The club was established in 1905 and has won 27 premierships since...
, and another match was scheduled for the following week to decide the victors. In all, 200 minutes of rugby had to be played before the victory could be celebrated.
Loane captained Queensland to several distinctive wins over NSW
New South Wales Rugby Union
The New South Wales Rugby Union is the organisation responsible for the sport of rugby union in most of the state of New South Wales, Australia...
in the 70s and also captained Australia for six tests between 1979 and 1982. His first test as captain was the 1979 match against the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
at the Sydney Cricket Ground which Australia won 12-6 to take back the Bledisloe Cup
Bledisloe Cup
Rugby Union's Bledisloe Cup is contested by the Australia national rugby union team and New Zealand national rugby union team. It is named after Lord Bledisloe, the former Governor-General of New Zealand who donated the trophy in 1931. The trophy was designed in New Zealand by Nelson Isaac, and...
for the first time in 30 years. Loane famously told a fellow Wallaby to get his act together, after the player turned up to a function drunk and poorly dressed, with the line "Mediocrity shits me".
He is married to Elizabeth Loane (née O'Neil) and has two daughters. Loane now works as an ophthalmic
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
surgeon with a strong interest in the provision of ophthalmic services to indigenous people, particularly those of the Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
.
In 2007 he was honoured in the third tranche of inductees into the Australian Rugby Union
Australian Rugby Union
The Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
Hall of Fame.
On 23 September 2000, Loane was awarded with the Australian Sports Medal
Australian Sports Medal
The Australian Sports Medal was an award given during 2000 to recognise achievements in Australian sport.Recipients of the award included competitors, coaches, sports scientists, office holders, and people who maintained sporting facilities and services. Over 18,000 Medals were...
for having played more than 50 games for Queenslandand also for having contributed to the development of rugby in Queensland.
On 26 January 2011, Loane was named as Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for service to medicine in the field of ophthalmology, particularly to the Indigenous communities of northern Queensland, and as a contributor to the development of sustainable health services.