Canberra Region Rugby League has paid tribute to Lee Donnelly who passed away earlier this month.
Having come to Canberra in the mid 1970’s from the south coast, Donnelly became a staple part of the Canberra rugby league community through his involvement with the Woden Valley Rams as a committeeman, club secretary and much later, having returned to the club, as sponsorship manager.
Lee was senior figure in bringing together the Group 8 and group 19 competitions along with well-known administrators Les McIntyre and Don Elphick. This successful reuniting paved the way for the Raiders entry into the NSWRL competition in 1982. He then took his place on the committee of what has become the Canberra Region Rugby League for a number of years.
Donnelly also did plenty of work to promote rugby league within the Canberra Region through running a regular rugby league spot on community radio and sponsoring the Leedon Trophy for Best and Fairest in Canberra Raiders Cup Reserve Grade which continues to this day.
He had been awarded life membership of the old Group 19 competition.
Canberra Region Rugby League would like offer our deepest sympathy to the family of Lee Donnelly in this difficult time. He will be sorely missed.
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Topic: CRRL: Vale Lee Donnelly
