Peter “Doubles’’ Daley has been far more concerned about numbers than letters for the past 50 years.
On Wednesday there is a welcome change of theme as the popular rugby union servant and tireless fundraiser breaks from cancer treatment to have lunch with family and friends to celebrate his Order of Australia (OAM) recognition in the Australia Day Honours list.
An early week chemotherapy session has been spaced to ensure he gains maximum enjoyment from a celebration of his selfless service.
“This means a hell of a lot,’’ Daley said.
“I don’t know who nominated me. I don’t go out hunting these things. Some people like to have millions of initials after their name. But that’s not me.’’
Banned from playing contact sport due to an eye condition he was born with, Daley has become a rugby institution by selling first try scoring doubles, which have raised money for his beloved club Souths, various charities and more than a $1 million for Queensland Rugby.
“I only ever attempted to play once. It was Sunday morning fifth grade at Ballymore.
Amazingly, I caught the ball and passed it and a guy from University intercepted it and scored. The referee Bob Burnett said “you are a danger to yourself … off.’’
His bonds with the rugby fraternity have shone through during his cancer treatment where Souths rugby legends Alex Evans and Andrew Slack have stayed close.
“People have been very good to me. When I was diagnosed, Alex Evans spoke to me for an hour the next day. He and Andrew ring me every week.’’
“My wife died of cancer 12 years ago and I got diagnosed with cancer two weeks before Christmas in 2018. They gave me maximum 24 months to live and I am in my 38th month.
“The doubles all started at school at St Laurence’s when I asked a brother for money for our sports committee and he said “don’t look at me.’ I went to Ballymore soon after and saw blokes selling doubles and I said “what are they doing?
“So the next week I got the old stencil machine from the school and took it home and wrote the 225 (first try) combinations out by hand. By Friday I was selling doubles (for the St Laurence’s First XV games) at school.’’
So started a journey which has seen him personally sell more than 340,000 tickets. At age 29, he was the youngest life member at Souths, a club where he also was a linesman and gear steward. He was made a QRU life member despite the fact his only game was that frantic appearance in fifth grade.
“It’s been a great journey. I am not allowed to drink alcohol but I might sneak in one Bundy rum at Wednesday’s lunch.’’
Or maybe even a double …
