Cast an eye over Daramalan rugby's inaugural first grade team list and you'll find Dennis McGrath at No.11. And even when he wasn't on the team sheet, "his boots were never far from the sheds".
Because "Dennis was not only a foundation first grade player but also a lifelong friend of this club".
The ACT rugby community is in mourning again following the loss of one of Gungahlin's "true pioneers" after McGrath died at his Wollongong home last Saturday. He was 73.
McGrath was a foundation player for Daramalan, playing in the club's maiden first grade appearance - alongside his brothers - in 1973, long before the club was rebranded as Gungahlin.
But McGrath's legacy stretches far beyond the confines of a rugby field. Six years have passed since he led a team of 455 volunteers to help rural families recover from the Black Summer bushfires that tore through Braidwood.
"A foundation member of the club's inaugural first grade squad in 1973, alongside his brothers Bob and Peter, Dennis embodied the loyalty, commitment, and community spirit that helped build our club from the ground up," a Gungahlin Eagles tribute said.
"Dennis was part of a special generation of local players from Daramalan College. When the club achieved the historic milestone of fielding its first-ever first grade team, Dennis was there, proudly pulling on the jersey and playing wherever he was needed. He helped lay the foundations for the proud legacy that continues today.
"Although his playing career was cut short by work commitments, Dennis's connection to the club never faded. His boots were never far from the sheds, and his support for the red and black remained unwavering throughout his life.
"Beyond rugby, Dennis was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was a respected member of the community who loved and cherished his family, especially his girls, and took immense pride in their achievements.
"Dennis is survived by his loving wife, Carol, his children Ben, Kerry, and Leanne, and his beloved grandchildren Cadence, Parker, Isaac, Mary, Evie, and Lexi. He now reunites with his granddaughter Ava, who awaits him in heaven.
"The legacy of the pioneers of the 1970s lives on in every player who pulls on the red and black jersey today. Dennis was not only a foundation first grade player but also a lifelong friend of this club. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him."
Tributes flowed from beyond the ACT rugby network, with BlazeAid - a volunteer-based organisation working with farmers and families in rural Australia after bushfires, floods, and cyclones - taking a moment to remember McGrath.
McGrath and wife Carol led a team of 455 volunteers in a Braidwood camp established in 2020 after the fires that devastated the South Ccoast.
The volunteers within the Braidwood camp dedicated 9392 volunteer days to assist 265 properties, clearing 131 kilometres and rebuilding 249 kilometres of fencing.
"People felt looked after," a BlazeAid tribute on social media said.
"There was a lot of hard work, but also plenty of laughs and lasting friendships. That doesn't just happen, that comes from the people leading it, and Dennis and Carol set that tone every single day."
A celebration of McGrath's life will take place at St Raphael's Catholic Church in Queanbeyan on June 17.
