One for the Guiness Book Of Records. 23 Players
all related and with the surname Ahearn played rugby
League in the same team and all from the same family
line.
This monumental game occurred at the Emu Park International
Sporting Complex, commonly called the Emu Park Oval
in September 1989. It was the highlight of the Family
Reunion for one of the early inhabitants of Emu
Park, the Ahern Family.
For the record Emu Park is located on the east coast
of Central Queensland Australia, some 44 kms east
of the City of Rockhampton. It is near where the
Tropic of Capricorn crosses the coast.
The game was organized and the brainchild of Gordon
Ahearn of Bloomsbury. Gordon arranged for Queenslands
most recognized Referee Barry Grasshopper Gomersall
to officiate. Gomersall had been the whistle blower
in many firery State of Origin Clashes in cauldrons
such as the SCG and Lang Park. This was to be his
biggest challenge.
The game attracted nation wide attention through
all medias.

AS REPORTED IN LOCAL NEWSPAPER.
The Ahern family, originating from Emu Park, reunited
at the weekend to establish a new rugby league record
for the Guiness Book of Records.
They raised a team of 23 players from the sons of
seven Ahern brothers to create what they believe
is the first rugby league team of players from one
family line.
National rugby league referee Barry Gomersall made
his first appearance on the Capricorn Coast to referee
the match between the Ahern Family and the Emu Park
Reserve grade team in Bicentennial Park.
Assisting were leading Central Queensland referees
David Hill and Peter Connell.
Six of the brothers present were Bill (Bowen), Fred
(Rockhampton), Gordon (Bloomsdale), Ron (Sarina),
Clarry (Tambo) and John (Dysart). Joe (Dysart) was
unable to attend.
The reunion and the Guiness Book of Records challenge
was organised by Gordon Ahern. John Ahern, 46, was
the only brother in the team and the oldest player.
Those at the huge family gathering were easy to
identify with their green shirt pockets marked with
the family coat of arms.
A crowd of more than 1000 spectators, including
about 400 members of the Ahern family, watched the
family rugby league team bite the dust in the feature
match against the Emu Park Reserve Grade team.
Some had never played the game before.
Emu Park won the match 38 - 8.
Try scorers were Kent Svendsen (2), Shawn Doak (2),
Gavin Tydd (1), Jan Slotasch (1), Goals were kicked
by Kirk Doak (3) and Simon Guest (1). Man of the
match was Kent Svendsen. Steve Ahern scored the
only try for his team. Goals were kicked by Steve
Ahern and Peter Ahern.
Australian Meat Holdings won the curtain raiser
against the Rockhampton Correctional Centre Officers
25 - 24.
Gordon Ahern issued a challenge for the Ahern sons
to stage another match in 2009, with sons of the
fifth generation. He said his grandfather played
football on the same ground in about 1920. He was
a bare knuckle fighter who fought against Joe McCallum
on Emu Park Beach in one of the last fights of its
kind.
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FOOTNOTE TO THIS GAME...
Quigs made yet another comeback in this game after
a 5 year layoff through injuries and a Car accident.
At the time I was assistant coach to the Emu Park
Publican Steve Kiwi Anderson. Both of us had long
stopped playing and coached in a Non playing capacity.
It was Emu Parks first year playing in the Rockhampton
Lower grade competition. It was a golden opportunity
for Steve and I to display to the younger Park players
our "obvious" skills.

We usually told them how good we were in our day,
often it was very late into the night and always
at the bar of the Piney aka the Pine Beach Hotel.
Need I explain anymore.
Kiwi Anderson and Quigs in comeback mode 23-9-1989
Both Kiwi and I had planned to keep off the field
for as long as humanly possible and let the youngins
soften one another up before we pranced on. I was
sitting next to Kiwi on the sideline bench and it
was only about two minutes into the game. I turned
to talk to Kiwi but he had disappeared onto the
paddock...... he could not help himself.
The first sight I saw of Kiwi in that game was John
Ahern the oldest player on the field running towards
a crouched and cocked Kiwi Anderson. Kiwi let fly
with a blatant stiff arm that sent poor John skyward
with legs, arms flaying wildly. Grasshopper penalised
Kiwi. At the break I said to Kiwi, "what did you
stiff arm Old Uncle John for"? He said, "I don't
know, I just couldn't help it. It was a reflex thing"
Kiwi was a wild lad, and had played hooker in the
Foley Shield, his nose proved testament to that.
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