Michael Matthew MORONEY

Mike Moroney initially played on the wing in rugby league until 1955 when he broke his wrist. Always a fast runner, he turned to athletics, although he had competed in that sport as a youth, setting numerous schoolboy records. Moroney attended Christian Brothers College before finishing at St. Joseph’s College in Hunters Hill in 1949. He won New South Wales titles in the long jump in 1956 and 1957, placing second in 1957 and third in 1958 at the Australian Championships. He was also fourth in the triple jump at the 1958 Nationals.

In Tamworth Moroney initially worked in his father’s slipper factory and then moved to the accounts department of Stan Brown’s Menswear. He later began work in radio and eventually television where he was a general manager of NEN9 and director of Television New England. He was known for his charity work for multiple organizations and he was twice named citizen of the year in Tamworth and in 1999 was awarded an Australian Medal. Moroney was co-founder of Diabetes Australia Tamworth Branch and Chairman of the Appeal Committee for the establishment of the Diabetes Centre at the Tamworth Base Hospital. He served as Chairman of the Appeal Committee to raise funds for the establishment of the Mammography Unit at Tamworth Base Hospital, was President of the Rotary Club of Tamworth, and Chairman of the Red Shield Appeal for Salvation Army.

Personal Best: LJ – 7.38 (1958).