Frank Fisher (detail) c1935
Born in Townsville, the son of Frank Fisher snr and his wife Esme.
In the 1930s Frank Fisher is captain of the Cherbourg Rugby League team.
“He used to tell us that we weren’t playing for ourselves but for Cherbourg.”
— Livingston Chambers, about Frank Fisher
In 1935, Frank Fisher plays half-back for Wide Bay against the England touring team. The English captain, Jim Brough, describes Fisher as “the best country footballer I had played against”. On Brough’s recommendation, Fisher was offered a contract to play club Rugby League in Salford, England but the Queensland Government refused his application to travel under the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of Sale of Opium Act 1897 (Qld).
He has been described as fast, with a distinctive side-step, playing either at fly-half or centre three-quarter. In 1946 he was still leading the Cherbourg Magpies Rugby League team as captain to victory.
Fisher further displayed his athletic ability in cricket. On one occasion, playing for the Cherbourgh A Grade side against Goomeri, he struck 105 (retired) in 32 minutes including 11 sixes and 5 fours. His side won by 294 on the first innings on a day when the Cherbourg side was without the usual services of fast bowler Eddie Gilbert. Fisher’s feat was reported nationally.
His father had served with the 11th Light Horse Regiment but Fisher’s attempt to follow in his father’s footsteps in 1940 was blocked on racial grounds.
On the 8th June 1996 a bridge over Barambah Creek, Cherbourg and named in his honour was opened. In 2010 Fisher was named as a member of Australian rugby league’s Indigenous Team of the Century. He is the paternal grandfather of Australian athlete and Olympic gold medalist Cathy Freeman.
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Peter Hulthen November 15, 2013 11:20 pmFormer Director of Primary Education (Phil Cullen) supplied the list of players fro the 1946 Cherbourg Rugby League Team: Jack O'Chin [32] Full Back Bertie Fisher [29] Wing Harry Costello [32] Centre Elgar Harrison [19] Centre Dick Hill [30] Wing Frank Fisher [40] 5/8 Capt./Coach Jack Malone [29] 1/2 Peter Stanley [24] Breakaway Dudley Collins [25] 2nd Row Jim Stanley [32] 2nd Row Vincent Serico ]20] Front row Norman Bird [36] Rake Bowman Johnson [23] Front row Mervyn Douglas [28] Utility Duker Harte [32] Utility forward. "Until they met us they had been undefeated in 1945/46 with enormous scores. After they met us, they remained undefeated with enormous scores." quote from Phil Cullen , uncle of Bruno Cullen former CEO of Brisbane Broncos. Regards Peter Hulthen (Son-in-law of Harry Johnson who is Bowman's brother.
