Ray Hill delivering Heritage certificates in Australia

IN years gone by, we have had loads of Aussies and New Zealanders wearing the famous red-and-white shirts. They crossed the world to play for Oldham, each building memories of our club and memories of our town and its people to last a lifetime.

Memories, of course, work both ways. We remember our visitors, too. Many of us have been to their far-off lands to sample the things they had told us about — their rugby, their life-style, their towns and cities, their people and places. I've been lucky, having made several trips to Australia, occasionally under my own steam but more often than not through work.

I've covered tours by Oldham boys and by the North-West's best teenagers (the likes of James Roby and Harrison Hansen were just kids); I' ve watched Great Britain win in Melbourne and in Sydney; I've seen them lose in Brisbane in Lang Park days, I've watched rugby league in Fiji and in Auckland and I've watched Oldham play up in Queensland, at Townsville, and also in Adelaide.

I've been on most of the famous Australian NRL grounds and either en route Down Under, or on the way back, I've been lucky enough to take in the sights and scenes of Hawaii, Singapore, San Fransisco, Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

Hundreds from this area have done something similar — and it's all down to Rugby League.

The Heritage certificate scheme is proving a wow: a relatively cheap way of retaining memories and of providing young men with a tangible reminder of a period in their lives which they will never forget. When playing days are long gone and, indeed, are but a fading memory in old age, out will come the certificate and memories of THAT try or THAT tackle.

Ray Hill and our ex-star Gary Warnecke

Some Aussies who have played for us, like John Cogger and Glen Liddiard, have received their certificates over here. Others have received them in Australia, such as David Liddiard, Bruce Clark, Brett Clark and Stuart Raper'

The Players Association and the Heritage Trust work closely on certificate distribution and David Walker, a member of the Players' Association who lived in Australia for several years, has been a massive help in ensuring that the right certificates got to the right people. Indeed, David has received an official thank-you from both the Players Association and the Heritage Trust for all the work he has done on this huge project.

International stars too. Left to right: Former Kangaroos star and coach Ricky Stuart, Ray Hill, Chris O'Sullivan.

Now, another member of the Association, Ray Hill, a former commercial manager at the club, has flown to Australia on an extended holiday and has taken with him the certificates for Chris O'Sullivan, Ashley Gilbert, Gary Warnecke, Mal Graham, Peter Walsh and New Zealander Charlie McAlister, whom he will see in Auckland in the New Year.

Ray Hill (centre) also met up with Oldham's former Aussie star Gary Warnecke (right), who was taken on a tour of The Rabbitoh's Centre with Ray by former Rabbitohs' player Darren Brown (left), who played at Salford when Ray was commercial manager there. Said Ray, "Gary had a good head of hair when he played so well at Oldham. He, too, was blown away to receive his certificate.

He is staying with Peter Walsh in Sydney and he has been south to Canberra Raiders where he was taken on a tour of Canberra HQ where he was welcomed with open arms. Said Ray: "It was fabulous to meet up with these guys again and to talk about the old days in Oldham. The staff at Raiders were brilliant and Jess, the media manager, showed me around their facilities, Chris was thrilled to receive his Oldham certificate, but unfortunately Ashley Gilbert couldn't make it so we will have to make alternative plans for Ashley.

Now down to Canberra—and one of our Heritage Certificates goes to Chris O'Sullivan. Those were the days, my friend!

"Back in Sydney, I gave Peter and Mal a Zutti tee shirt which was kindly donated by Paul and Maggie. Like Chris and Gary Warnecke, Peter and Mal were made up with their certificates and I know Charlie McAlister will be when I get over to New Zealand."