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Jack Gibson: played hard, done good
OBITUARY
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| By DAMIR GOVORCIN
18 May, 2008 |
John Arthur (Jack) Gibson
February 27, 1929–May 9, 2008
Peter Cody, an acolyte at St Aloysius Gonzaga, Cronulla, would often serve communion to his friend Jack Gibson.
Peter says: “After I would say ‘Body of Christ’, instead of saying Amen, Jack would say ‘thank you’.
“That was Jack being Jack - he was always good with the one-liners. He wasn’t trying to be disrespectful or funny – it was his way of saying thanks to God.”
Jack was a much-loved figure in the Cronulla parish, doing “a lot of good work” behind the scenes helping people, according to Peter.
“He was a giant of a man in every sense and deeply loved and respected in the parish,” he said. “He loved his faith and lived it through his words and actions.”
Rugby league’s greatest coach, Jack Gibson, who won five premierships in 10 years, died on May 9 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. He was 79.
The death of “the supercoach”, renowned for his charity work and witty one-liners, was marked by a minute’s silence before the Centenary Test between Australia and New Zealand at the SCG.
Past and present players, coaches and administrators were among mourners who filled St Aloysius Church, Cronulla, for his Requiem Mass last Wednesday.
Jack was named last month as coach of the Team of the Century as part of rugby league’s centenary celebrations.
He won five premierships – with Eastern Suburbs 1974–75 and Parramatta 1981–-83 – teams regarded as being among the game’s greatest.
Jack, a front rower, played 154 first grade matches for Easts, Wests and Newtown and one game for NSW.
As a coach he pioneered the use of video match reviews on Mondays, arguing “the use of video evidence is not always conclusive, but it sure beats the memory bank of most witnesses”.
Rugby league writer Ian Heads said capturing the essence of Jack Gibson is like “catching lightning in a bottle”.
“He was all of the following: one of the toughest men to ever play rugby league, the unlikeliest coaching success story in the game’s history (and progressively a revolutionary in that field), loving family man, wit, author, TV cult figure, student of the wisdom of the world, golfer, fisherman, former SP bookie, philanthropist, lover of Australian art and the poetry of Banjo Paterson, collector of things old and strange, dog lover, coach of the century and deeply, deeply Australian,” he said.
“Jack won premierships, uplifted the status of coaches and changed many lives.
“His rough-hewn wisdom and compassion touched countless people down the years – from jailbirds looking for a better way, to school kids gazing up in awe at the big man with his spare but compelling words.
“But most of all he touched generations of footballers who became better players and, more importantly still, better people and better citizens.”
Eels great Peter Sterling, who played halfback for Jack in Parramatta’s hat-trick of premierships, said he was “absolutely shattered” by news of his former coach’s death. “Jack, he loved his players, he cared about his players,” said Sterling.
“And I think the great thing about being coached by Jack Gibson ... is he was more concerned about you off the field than he ever was on (the field).
“He made wonderful footballers, but he also made wonderful people, and I thank Jack Gibson eternally for being a part of my life.
“I know I speak on behalf of every rugby league player and every rugby league supporter who was lucky enough to see Jack in action.”
In 1988, Jack was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia “for service to rugby league as a coach”.
Jack was heavily involved in charity work.
With his wife, Judy, he raised funds for research into schizophrenia after their eldest son, Luke, died of a drug overdose in 1987.
Ian Heads says Jack used words “wonderfully”, and many of his sayings and witticisms have long since joined the lexicon of league, and will always remain.
“Some were wonderful - and deceptively profound, such as the famous ‘Ding dong, the witch is dead’ intoned to a packed auditorium at Parramatta Leagues Club after the Eels (born in 1947) had finally won a comp in 1981,” he said.
“Jack used only those six words in his speech to the adoring crowd. They were all he needed.”
He added: “There is so much to remember of him, but this will do me: A ‘Hey brother’ at the door of the Gibson home.
“Then a few hours sitting in his beautiful study overlooking Port Hacking, Jack’s adoring dogs scattered like rugs at his feet as he rummaged for his notebooks or roamed the room to unearth the latest purchase from the auctions, perhaps an 1896 cash register or a rifle from the American Civil War.
“Then, finally, down to business – talking footy, digging out quotes, the yarns and ideas flowing. I won’t forget those days.”
Jack is survived by Judy and six children.
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