Welsby Cup winners
The Premier teams that were running first and second at the end of the first full round of home and away matches traditionally play for the Welsby Cup when next they meet in the second round.
Welsby Cup winners (since 1937):
| 1934 University 1935 University 1936 Eagle Junction 1937 GPS 1938 University 1939 YMCA 1940 GPS 1941 University 1945 Brothers 1946 Brothers 1947 Brothers 1948 Brothers 1949 Brothers 1950 Brothers 1951 University 1952 University 1953 University 1954 Brothers 1955 University 1956 Brothers 1957 University 1958 University 1959 University 1960 University 1961 Souths 1962 Teachers 1963 Teachers | 1964 University | 1991 Wests 1992 Wests 1993 Wests 1994 GPS 1995 GPS 1996 GPS 1997 Souths 1998 Easts 1999 Easts 2000 Easts 2001 GPS 2002 Sunnybank 2003 Gold Coast 2004 Sunnybank 2005 Gold Coast 2006 Sunnybank 2007 Wests 2008 Brothers 2009 Brothers 2010 University |
The name behind the Trophy
Thomas Welsby, company director, politician and sportsman, was born on 29 November, 1858, at Ipswich and died on 3 February, 1941, at his home in New Farm, Brisbane.
Thomas joined the Bank of New South Wales in Brisbane in October 1874 and in May 1879, joined the Australian Joint Stock Bank in Brisbane. In July 1884 he left to practice as a public accountant, trustee and auditor; he became a member of the Brisbane Stock Exchange, operated a shipping partnership and audited the Brisbane Municipal Council accounts until 1893.
The chairmanship of directors of Queensland Brewery Ltd (1907-19) stamped Welsby's commercial importance and made him one of Brisbane's elite. He had stood unsuccessfully for the Legislative Assembly as a candidate for Fortitude Valley in 1899, 1902 and 1909; as a Ministerialist he won North Brisbane in 1911 and held the state seat of Merthyr from 1912 to 1915.
Welsby loved history and sport; he was foundation honorary treasurer (1913), vice-president (1917-36, 1937-41) and president (1936-37) of the Historical Society of Queensland. He was also the foundation secretary of the Brisbane Gymnasium in 1882 and formed the Queensland Amateur Boxing and Wrestling Union in 1909. Welsby was a founding member of the Royal Queensland Yacht Club in 1885 and later became Commodore from 1903-19.
Welsby was well respected player and administrator for the Queensland Rugby Union; he was a member of the Wanderers Football Club and played for Queensland in the intercolonial matches against New South Wales in 1882 and 1883.
In 1882 Welsby was selected as manager and half-back for Queensland's first intercolonial Rugby Union team which played New South Wales in Sydney. The Queensland side played six games in ten days including two against New South Wales, but unfortunately lost both matches. Welsby turned out again for Queensland in 1883, when the Old Enemy made their first trip to Brisbane. This time the honours would be evenly shared with one victory each in the two match series, however the 12 points to 11 victory by Queensland would be their first win against New South Wales.
Welsby along with Jimmy Flynn, Jack Ross, Alec Hinds and Tommy Lawton was instrumental in the revival of the Rugby code in Queensland in 1928; he would serve as the President of the Queensland Rugby Union (president 1929-39) and be honoured with Life Membership of the QRU. He also donated the Welsby Cup which would be contested by the first and second placed teams at the end of the first round of premiership fixtures.
(with thanks to Anthony McDermott)
