Posted on Wednesday 22nd July, 2020

Paul Goener – Sporting Legend

MSQ are celebrating the many achievements of Paul Goener – Champion Junior Swimmer, Rugby League Player, Highly decorated Rugby League Referee, Champion Masters Swimmer.

Maryborough Masters Swimming Club Inc member Paul Goener has made a major contribution to junior, senior and Masters sporting organisations.  Additionally, on a  community level he has been involved in various organisations, he is consistent, fair minded willing to share information. He has been involved in sports development, particularly in Rugby League and later in his career, Masters Swimming.

He is currently the Vice President of the Maryborough Masters Swimming Club, assisting with all aspects of club management, promotion and fund-raising. He is greatly admired by the membership and public at the pool.  Even though he has suffered some ill health in recent years, he remains a constant visitor to the pool and an active club member, sharing his knowledge and gracious personality the members and public alike.

As a 15 year old he won the first of three Queensland Swimming Championship and is still swimming. He was a competitive swimmer in the Maryborough Swimming Club in his youth and set numerous records in various strokes in the old Maryborough 33 yard pool in between 1946 and 1952.

2007 Maryborough’s butterfly king, Paul Goener smashes yet another record. Note the bandaged wrist – Paul nearly missed the race when the marshal noticed his bleeding wrist which he quickly had bandaged just in time to start the race.

Swimming Achievements

  • Junior Member, Maryborough Swimming Club, Queensland
  • 1946 & 47 – Queensland Champion
  • 1949 Intermediate Queensland Champion
  • 1951 & 52 – Champion Country Squadron Queensland
  • 1984 – 2020 Member Maryborough Masters Swimming Club Inc
  • 7 National Records & 13 State Records
  • 2006  Pan Pacific Games – 3 Pan Pacific Records & Medals
  • Life Member, Maryborough Masters Swimming Club

Rugby League Achievements

  • Rugby League Queensland 1948 – 1992
  • 1965 – 1976 Senior Referee
  • 1965 – 1976 Touch Judges Juniors & Seniors

Honours as Referee

  • 1973 Wide Bay v New Zealand
  • 1974 Test Match Judge Australia v New Zealand
  • 1965, 1967, 1972, 1976 – Interstate Touch Judge
  • 1970 – Wide Bay v Queensland
  • 1970 State Championships – Brisbane V North Queensland
  • 1971 – 1974 Country Championships
  • 1972 – 1974 Carlton Club

Additional Honours

  • President & Vice President – Queensland Referees Association
  • Honouree Life Member – New South Wales Referees Association
  • 2006 – Australia Day Award – Fraser Coast Sports Star of the Year
  • 2007 – Australia Day Award – Senior Sportsman of the Year
  • 1989 – Founding Member, 1996 President & 1991-1998 Committee Member of  Probus Heritage City Chapter, Maryborough Qld
  • Member – Fraser Coast Uniting Lodge #19 – 60 Year Jewel Service Medal
  • 2000 – Volunteer Award – Blue Care Maryborough
  • 1959 Won the Australian Amateur Middleweight Lifters

Thanks to VP Central, Patricia O’Brien-Price for contributing this article.