It is with great sadness that Touch Football Australia acknowledges the passing of Peter Rooney, a pioneer of our sport, Life Member of both Touch Football Australia and NSW Touch Football, and one of the most significant figures in the early development of touch football in Australia and Internationally.
Peter’s contribution to the game spanned more than four decades and reached from the grassroots of Touch Football through to the national and international development of the game.
Among his many contributions, Peter was involved in establishing the Cronulla Touch Football competition in 1972, became NSW Touch Football Graded Referee No. 1, served as Referee Director for both Touch Football Australia and NSW Touch Football. He also later held Executive Director roles with both organisations in their early years of professional staffing.
He was the selector of the first ever Australian team that toured New Zealand in 1976. Peter also played an important role in the development of the inaugural National Championships, held in 1980. He was a significant stakeholder in the first eight National Championships demonstrating his commitment to fostering the game nationwide.
His contribution extended into the governance of the sport. Peter served as President of NSW Touch Football from 1981 to 1985 and as President of the then Australian Touch Association in 1983. He served on the national Board on two occasions, including as Chair in 2006/2007 during an important period in the development of the sport’s national governance structure and the Unitary Model plan.
Perhaps most significantly, Peter was a driving force behind the international growth of touch football during the sport’s formative years and played an important role in the inaugural Touch Football World Cup in 1988. Without Peters drive and passion, and networking skillset, the sport would not have developed as quickly both here in Australia and across the international scene.
Peter was recognised for his contribution to the sport through Life Membership of NSW Touch Football in 1988 and Touch Football Australia in 2011.
The history of Touch Football is built on the commitment of people who were prepared to give their time, energy, passion and expertise to grow the sport. Peter Rooney was one of those people.
His contribution helped shape Touch Football from a developing Australian sport into a nationally organised and internationally recognised game. Many of the opportunities, structures and pathways that exist in Touch Football today have their foundations in the work undertaken by Peter and others of his generation.
On behalf of Touch Football Australia, we extend our sincere condolences to Peter’s family, friends and the many people across the touch football community who knew and worked alongside him.
Thank you, Peter, for your contribution to our sport. Your legacy will remain part of the history of Touch Football.
Vale Peter Rooney (pictured right).
