Roger Vanderfield
Encyclopedia
Ian Roger Vanderfield AO
OBE (1928 – 25 September 2008) was an Australia
n doctor, and a rugby union
referee and administrator. Vanderfield refereed over 1200 games, including 32 test matches
and internationals.
in 1952 and was a member of the Faculty of Medicine from 1973 to 1991. He was the Chief Medical Superintendent of Northern Sydney Area Health Service.
Vanderfield co-wrote the centenary history of Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital
. He was also the hospital's Honorary Archivist.
and the Australian Rugby Union
.
As chairman of the International Rugby Board
Vanderfield was instrumental in establishing the first Rugby World Cup
. The Australia and New Zealand Rugby Unions had launched a joint proposal to introduce a World Cup. There was reluctance from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Vanderfield flew to South Africa at his own expense and convinced SARU
not to vote against the proposal. South Africa abstained and other unions came on board. Eventually the proposal was adopted by a vote of eight to six.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1976 New Year Honours
, "[f]or services to medicine and sport".
Vanderfield was elected a life member of numerous Rugby bodies. On 24 October 2011, he was posthumously inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame
for his role in the creation of the Rugby World Cup.
The Vanderfield Building at Royal North Shore Hospital is named after him.
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"...
OBE (1928 – 25 September 2008) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n doctor, and a 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...
referee and administrator. Vanderfield refereed over 1200 games, including 32 test matches
Test match (rugby union)
Test match in rugby union is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport....
and internationals.
Medical career
A doctor by profession, Vanderfield graduated from the University of SydneyUniversity of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in 1952 and was a member of the Faculty of Medicine from 1973 to 1991. He was the Chief Medical Superintendent of Northern Sydney Area Health Service.
Vanderfield co-wrote the centenary history of Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital
Royal North Shore Hospital
The Royal North Shore Hospital is a major public teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia, located in St Leonards. It serves as a teaching hospital for Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney and has approximately 740 beds. It is the referral hospital for Northern Sydney and the Central...
. He was also the hospital's Honorary Archivist.
Rugby achievements
In the 1980s, Vanderfield was President of the New South Wales Rugby UnionNew 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...
and 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...
.
As chairman of the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
Vanderfield was instrumental in establishing the first Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
. The Australia and New Zealand Rugby Unions had launched a joint proposal to introduce a World Cup. There was reluctance from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Vanderfield flew to South Africa at his own expense and convinced SARU
Saru
Saru may refer to:*Saru River, river in Hokkaidō, Japan*Saru District, Hokkaidō, district in Japan*SARU or South African Rugby Union, the governing body for rugby union in South Africa*Saru, Estonia, village in Mõniste Parish, Võru County, Estonia...
not to vote against the proposal. South Africa abstained and other unions came on board. Eventually the proposal was adopted by a vote of eight to six.
Honours
Vanderfield was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2006 for service to the community through the delivery of health care services at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, and to Rugby Union football.He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1976 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
, "[f]or services to medicine and sport".
Vanderfield was elected a life member of numerous Rugby bodies. On 24 October 2011, he was posthumously inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame
IRB Hall of Fame
The IRB Hall of Fame is a hall of fame operated by the International Rugby Board that recognises special achievement and contribution to the sport of rugby union. The IRB Hall of Fame covers players, coaches, administrators, match officials, institutions and other individuals...
for his role in the creation of the Rugby World Cup.
The Vanderfield Building at Royal North Shore Hospital is named after him.