W.M. 'Billy' Hughes
Glebe Rugby League Club
Founding 'Club Patron' 1908

Though born in London (1862), 'Billy' Hughes was of Welsh heritage. At 22 he migrated to Queensland, moving to Sydney two years later. In 1890 he settled with his family in Balmain (Beattie St.), in the heart of the city's working-class suburbs.

Hughes became involved in labour and social issues, and his 'gift of the gab' was put to good use in rallying support. In 1894 he was an organiser for the Amalgamated Shearers Union in outback NSW. Later that year he returned to Sydney and won a seat for Labor in the NSW parliament. In 1899 he was involved in forming unions for waterside workers and tram-drivers.

With Federation of the states, Hughes won election to the Australian parliament in 1901. Now qualified as a lawyer (after studying part-time), Hughes was elected deputy leader of national Labor in 1907.

In January 1908 Hughes attended the foundation meetings of the Glebe rugby league club, and was elected as Club Patron by the founding members.

On 26 October 1915, with Labor in power, Hughes was unanimously chosen as leader and he became Prime Minister. He led the nation through the remainder of WW1, though issues over conscription (which he favoured) saw him leave the Labor party. Remarkably, he was able to still form a government from conservative members, and remained Prime Minister until 1923.

John 'Chris' Watson
South Sydney Rugby League Club
Founding 'Club Patron' 1908

Chris Watson's early years are somewhat open to conjecture. What is known is that he was born in Chile in 1867, his mother was from New Zealand, his father (Christian Tanck) a Chilean of German descent. His parents separated, and Watson took on his mother's re-married surname. Aged 20, he migrated to Sydney for better work opportunities as a typographer with the city's newspapers. During this time Watson played rugby in the local Sydney club competition.

Watson was elected as a workplace delegate, and became actively involved in labour issues. In 1891 he was a founding member of the NSW Labor Party, and three years later was elected to the colonial parliament. In March 1901 Watson won a seat in the first ever Australian parliament, and was chosen by his colleagues as Labor leader.

In April 1904 Labor suddenly found itself in control of the government, but did not hold an absolute majority. Watson was elected Prime Minister (the first from Labor, and youngest-ever). But by August, Labor had lost its tenuous hold on power and Watson was no longer Prime Minister.

In January 1908 Watson attended the foundation meetings of the South Sydney rugby league club, and was elected as Club Patron by the founding members.

Arthur 'Arch' Fadden
North Queensland Rugby League
Founding 'League Secretary' 1919

The son of Irish immigrants, Arthur 'Arch' Fadden was born on 13 April 1894, at Ingham in north Queensland. Growing up in Walkerston (near Mackay), Fadden worked as a cane-cutter as a teenager, before studying accountancy by correspondence. After qualifying, he set up his own business in Townsville in 1918.

Together with Arch Foley (who the 'Foley Shield' was named after), Fadden helped to form the North Queensland Rugby League in 1919, taking on the role of founding League Secretary.

Fadden remained a well-known figure in Townsville, and in 1930 became an alderman on the city's Council. He then joined the Country [Nationals] Party where he was elected to the Queensland parliament. In 1936 he moved to the Darling Downs, where he won a Federal seat. In a coalition government, Fadden was 'acting Prime Minister' during Robert Menzies' war-time trips overseas.

Fadden permanently replaced Menzies as Australia's Prime Minister in August 1941. His tenure lasted just 40 days, following the collapse of the coalition government.