1945 – 2026.
Pratten Park Magpies are saddened to advise that Maurie Raper passed away last Friday 20 February, aged 81 years. Maurie, was the brother of the legendary John Raper from the famous Raper ‘dynasty’.
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Maurie started his footy career at Pratten Park, playing 9 x Reserve and 28 x 3rd Grade games with us in 1964 and 1965.
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Third Grade program from 1965.
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Wests Team photo taken before the game against Manly 1965.
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In 1966, he relocated to Central Queensland representing the Regional team against the touring Great Britain side. Central Queensland 10 beat Great Britain 5.
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Maurie caught the attention of Penrith Panther officials who were assembling a squad for their inaugural 1967 season in the top grade.
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He went on to become a member of the Penrith Foundation 1967 side and played five-eighth in the Club’s first ever top grade appearance against Canterbury, going on to play 87 First Grade appearances over four seasons with the Panthers between 1967 and 1970.
Maurie Raper Penrith Player Number 10.
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Maurie transferred to Cronulla Sharks in 1971, playing 68 games for the Club including 37 First-Grade appearances over the next four seasons. During his time at Endeavour Field, he was a two-time Sharks First Grade Player of the Year.
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Cronulla Player Number 68.
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Maurie, finished his footy career playing with Helensburgh Tigers in the Illawarra District Competition in 1975.
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The Funeral Service for Maurie will be held at 11.00 am, on Thursday 5 March at St Aloysius Parish, 5 Nicholson Parade, Cronulla.
The Pratten Park Magpies Memorial Sash will be presented to Maurie’s Family by his Nephew, Stuart Raper from our 1989 side, on behalf of all of us.
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“Think where mans’ glory most begins and ends
And say my glory was I had such friends” – Yeats