Percy Murray and May Emily Laws family

Another large branch of the family.

The youngest of William & Sarah's children Frank Charles and his wife Margaret  did not have any children.

Lionel Edgar and Louisa Rebecca Laws Family

Now to the largest family branch.

Ernest Albert and Annie Brigadia Laws family

Unfortunately there are no living descendants of Ernest and Annie.

Lilian Laws and Joseph Samuel Langham family

Another branch to look out for at the reunion on May 20 2018.

Florence Laws and Edward Hutchison Family

Now to the Florence Laws family so other members of the Laws family can see where we all fit in. As I'm sure that we all will need to know which branch our other Laws relatives belong to when we meet up at the reunion.

The William & Sarah Laws family tree

William Frank  and Sarah Sophia Laws had seven children. The eldest boy William Camper Laws was left behind with his Goodall grandparents. See my previous blog about him http://familytreeblossoms.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/william-camper-laws-1859-1911.html
Constance Ada died very young before they left for Queensland so they embarked on their journey with 3 children and Sarah  heavily pregnant with the next child Lionel Edgar who was born at sea. See previous blog about the journey. X marks the spot where Lionel Edgar Laws was born on February 12 1868.
The family expanded in Queensland when the 2 younger boys were born.

Fred & Colin Laws Part 4:Fred and Colin after work

Notes prepared by Patrick Flynn  for a presentation for the induction of Fred Laws and Colin Laws in to the Allora Regional Sports Museum Hall of Fame at Allora on 25 February 2017
The notes now continue.

After Fred retired from work  he and Madge moved into an aged care hostel on the Gold Coast.  He passed away in March 1986. Fred  and Madge’s family has grown from three children to include 11 grandchildren 15 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren

Fred and Madge were very devoted to their grandchildren and delighted whenever they came to Fred and Madge’s Chevron Island home. They were a big part in the early lives .of the three grandsons who lived upstairs. The Tiger Laws of the rugby league field was a gentle man who was a good sport as well as a good sportsman and great footballer.

Away from the football field Colin was a keen gardener and regularly exhibited at the Allora Show.  He was reckoned a pretty handy cricketer and in his later years  enjoyed lawn bowls. He did not drive and seldom left Allora except for family reasons. Nnotable exceptions were trips to Lang Park Rugby League Tests to which he and his friends Colin Muir and Alf Naumann were regular spectators. 

He and Kit often hosted one or more of their grandchildren, for weekends and school holidays and looked after their oldest grandson for more than a year while Margaret was ill. Kit passed away in 1971. In his last years Colin visited his extended family on the Gold Coast a number of times and hosted five of his grandsons and the son of one his friends at his sister’s house in Surfer’s Paradise for a week. He stayed for a week or more every year with Margaret’s children and with Mary and her children.

Colin made friends wherever he went and he stuck with them.  When a friend and his wife sold their farm before their new home was built, Colin immediately invited them to stay with him at his home for as long as necessary.

Colin passed away on 7 February 1975 aged 68 in Allora the place he called home for almost 60 years. Colin’s and Kit’s Family has now extended to 2 children 12 grandchildren 24 great grandchildren and keenly awaited great great grandchild expected shortly.  Slip Laws of the football field wasa  straight shooting generous man who cared for his family, his customers and his community. Tom McVeigh and John Croke described him as “the Complete Package”.  It is hard to argue with that.

The seniors of the Allora Rugby League Football Club winners of the St George Cup in 1963

Colin is on the left.

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Friday 1 September 1933, page 25
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/179562605

Fred & Colin Laws Part 3: Fred and Colin after their representative days

Notes prepared by Patrick Flynn  for a presentation for the induction of Fred Laws and Colin Laws in to the Allora Regional Sports Museum Hall of Fame at Allora on 25 February 2017

The  notes now continue.

The year 1935 saw a number of changes to the extended Laws family which would ultimately result in 6 of the ten brothers and sisters move to the Gold Coast. After a holiday at Southport with their parents early in 1935 Lillian and Jessie decided to purchase a cafe and mixed business and a Property Freehold at Surfer’s Paradise. Lionel Senior, Louisa and their three daughters moved down the coast at the end of the year.

In June 1935 Fred Laws married. Madge Jarrott of Toowoomba. At about that time Fred took a job as an Insurance Inspector for Commercial Union Assurance and shifted to Warwick Fred’s return to Warwick was eagerly anticipated by the people of Warwick, particularly by the rugby league community who saw his presence and input as a chance to improve the standard of the game in the town and the fortunes of their rep. team.

From 1936 students at Warwick High School played inter-house football for the Fred Laws Cup. As a student he had represented the school as a centre three-quarter.

In 1938 a much anticipated game took place between Warwick coached by Fred and Allora coached by Colin on 3 June. Both teams were previously undefeated in the O’Shea Cup competition.  Warwick won by 2 points. Those teams would contest the Final of the O’Shea Cup competition at Allora in July in front of a big crowd with Warwick triumphant by 6 points to 3.

In that year Colin’s employer Barnes and Co would close its doors. Colin took a partner and established a grocery business in Herbert S  Allora. Colin later bought out his partner and operated the business successfully until his retirement in 1971.

At the end of 1938 Fred and Madge Laws and their young son Graeme moved to Surfers Paradise and joined the business established by his sisters. There would a further son and a daughter born and raised on the Gold Coast.

In the years to follow both Fred and Colin would continue to be involved in Rugby League in their respective home towns but not as rival coaches in the same competition.  

As outlined in The History of the Allora Rugby League Football Club 1918 – 1966  by The Hon Tom McVeigh and  John Croke, Colin would serve the Club as  Player, Captain, Coach, President, Vice President for almost the entire history of the Club except perhaps for his time playing in Toowoomba.

Both Fred and Colin coached local school teams.  Colin is understood to have given a few pieces of advice to the nuns who coached the convent school team who played against his charges at the State School. In 1969 Colin donated a shield to be played for in the Warwick and district junior competition.  That shield is still played for in the 43 kg division 47 years later and is currently held by Tenterfield.

Fred and his brothers Vic and Jack were active supporters of Rugby League on the Gold Coast particularly in Surfers Paradise where Fred coached.  He also coached Southport and South Coast Teams at different times. According to his daughter-in-Law Maureen Laws, for many of his later years Saturday afternoons in winter were reserved for watching the televised match of the day.

South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 - 1954), Wednesday 10 May 1950, page 4
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article225627210

Away from the football field Fred continued with the firm. L & J Laws. From 1945 the business which began as a café and later operated only as a general store would become known as Laws and Hamilton a partnership which included Fred and his brother-in-law Bill Hamilton. 

South Coast Bulletin (Southport, Qld. : 1929 - 1954), Wednesday 30 September 1953, page 8
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/rendition/nla.news-article226269567

By 1953 the business had expanded to include a self-service grocery and newsagency in new premises in the middle of Surfers Paradise together with a sports shop and mercery store. This site would be a familiar landmark in Surfers Paradise until well into the 1990’s although in later years more as a newsagency; stationary supplier and book store.  Fred would be a familiar kindly face at the front counter attending to customers’ needs until his retirement.in the early 1980’s.

One of his great- nieces Rebecca Wilson recalled Fred’s daily routine of a swim in the surf first thing on every morning followed by breakfast at his sister’s house and then off to work at the nearby Laws and Hamilton store

Fred & Colin Laws Part 2

Notes prepared by Patrick Flynn  for a presentation for the induction of Fred Laws and Colin Laws in to the Allora Regional Sports Museum Hall of Fame at Allora on 25 February 2017

The notes now continue.

Fred and Colin’s Football playing days

Victor, Frank, Fred, Colin and Jack all played football at Allora. Fred played rugby league in Warwick in 1925. Colin continued playing football in Allora and rose to captain the local team in 1926, in his 20^th year. He was deposed as captain by the selectors to the surprise of at least one correspondent.

In 1926 Fred played for the Valleys Club in Toowoomba. The 1927 year saw Colin join his brother with Valleys. In that year Fred was first picked to play for Queensland against New South Wales. He would represent Queensland every year thereafter until 1935.

In 1928 both brothers Laws transferred to the Newtown club in Toowoomba where they would play for the rest of their representative careers. Their brother Jack also played for Newtown in 1930.

In June 1928 Colin was selected to play for Queensland against England.  A gathering of 60 people in Allora in the following week met to honour his selection and make a presentation to him. 

On 23 June in that year Fred made his debut for Australia at the exhibition ground in Brisbane at five-eighth with, it was later revealed a broken toe. When asked about it Fred said he didn’t want to tell anyone because he didn’t want to miss the game, in case he didn’t get another chance.

In 1929 both Fred and Colin would play in all five matches against New South Wales. Fred was selected in a Kangaroo team to tour Great Britain and Colin was on the verge of selection.  It appears he was first reserve if any selected tourists pulled out but no one did.

Fred’s selection in the touring party was honoured by the Allora Rangers and also by the Warwick Harriers Swimming and Lifesaving Club. Fred played in one test on Tour as well as tour games. Fred was a regular correspondent with his family while overseas as was Colin with his travelling brother.  During the tour the Toowoomba team which included Colin toured North Queensland. Fred retained letters he received when he was overseas including one from Colin on Tour.

Colin played for Queensland again in 1930 and 1931 but also assumed family responsibilities.  In October 1930 Colin and Catherine “Kit” O’Neill were married in Allora. Their first child Margaret was born in October 1931. Another daughter Mary was born two years later.

In 1932 Colin announced his retirement from representative football for several reasons. The announcement in the Daily Standard described him as ‘a very safe and at times brilliant centre in the Toowoomba rugby league team. He was nicknamed “Slip” because of his elusive qualities and his ability to get through the narrowest gaps on the football field.

That announcement was far from the end of Colin’s involvement in rugby league let alone sport. He played as Captain Coach of the Wallaroos a third team in the Warwick competition in 1932.

During those years Fred continued playing for Newtown, Toowoomba, Queensland as well as three tests in Australia in 1932 including the famous battle of Brisbane. At the end of the 1933 representative season Fred was captain of the Queensland team and was Vice Captain of the 1933-34 touring Kangaroos. That wasn’t enough to secure a test berth until the series was lost as no Queenslanders were picked in the first two tests. Fred played his sixth test in December 1933 at Station Road Manchester, England.

On return from the Tour, Fred worked for his father and his brother Lionel

Fred continued in representative football until 1935. At the Annual Meeting of the Newtown Rugby League Club he was made a life member of the club and announced his retirement from representative football.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/200432797 Evening News (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1924 - 1941), Tuesday 10 March 1936, page 12

 He was reported as saying he had achieved what he had set out to achieve.  “Tiger” Laws had been described by Downs Rugby League legend Duncan Thompson as the best defensive five-eighth he had ever seen. Fred was named in numerous teams of the century in 2008. Fred had also the proud distinction of having captained his club, Toowoomba, Queensland and Australia

Like Colin, Fred’s involvement in rugby league continued long after he had hung up his representative boots.

Fred & Colin Laws Part 1: The family

Notes prepared by Patrick Flynn  for a presentation for the induction of Fred Laws and Colin Laws in to the Allora Regional Sports Museum Hall of Fame at Allora on 25 February 2017

Truth (Brisbane, Qld.: 1900 - 1954), Sunday 17 May 1931, page 5
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206274114

Fred and Colin Laws

Colin in his youth

The Family

Frederick Charles Laws was born on 5 March 1905 and Colin Chamberlain Laws on 9 September 1906 both in Brisbane. They were the seventh and eighth children of Lionel and Louisa Laws. There would be two further children born later to complete the family both of whom were born on the Downs.

Their father Lionel Edgar Laws was born on board ship on the way to Australia from England in 1868. Lionel learnt the trade of bridge carpenter under his father who did this type of work in Queensland, building wharves in Brisbane and railway bridges in Brisbane and in the country.  When Colin was very young his father won a contract to build a bridge across the Condamine at Warwick. After completion of the bridge, Lionel and his older sons engaged in road and bridge work on the Southern Downs.  Fred and Colin’s younger siblings Jack and Thelma were born in Warwick.  Their second oldest brother Richard enlisted in the Army and fought in the First World War. He was killed in France 3 months before the war ended.

In 1916 Lionel Laws was appointed Shire Engineer on the Allora Shire Council.  The family moved to Allora where they would remain for 9 years.  Frank, Fred, Colin and Jack all went to school at the Allora State School.  For Colin, Allora would be home for the rest of his life.  For Fred and the younger half of the family Allora would be a place where they spent most of their formative years. Indeed four of the brothers married Allora girls Lionel Edward to Bessie Holmes, Victor to Norma Holmes, Frank to Marjorie Stay and Colin to Kit O’Neill.

It didn’t take long for Fred and Colin to participate in football success after arriving in Allora but it wasn’t in rugby league. That would come later. They were members of the Allora State School premiership soccer team of 1917. The team consisted of W. J. Burge, H

Slater, H. Spink, L. Holmes. H. Mason, M. Davis, J. Foster, A. Ellis, F. Laws, (captain), H. Sharp, C. Laws

The Laws family were keen on sport. According to Fred and Colin’s brother Frank

Lionel and Richard were both good rifle shots………… They both played Rugby Union in competition at Warwick. (prior to rugby league)…………………… Richard was a very good footballer and a very good racing cyclist both road and track and a fairly good swimmer.

 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/82180249 Warwick Examiner and Times (Qld. : 1867 - 1919), Wednesday 12 November 1913, page 2

 Lionel was also a good footballer but he had less time to play sport.

Victor, Frank, Fred, Colin and (Jack) all played football at Allora

Fred and Colin both went to Warwick High School from Allora for about a year- bicycle to Hendon, train to Warwick and reverse after school.

Fred left school to take a job as a compositor at the Allora Guardian Newspaper to learn printing. He shifted to Warwick Daily News and later was apprenticed as a plumber.  He played rugby league in Warwick in 1925. Colin secured a job with Barnes & Co where Frank also worked.

 In 1925 Lionel and Louisa Laws moved from  Allora to Killarney for 12 months before relocating to Toowoomba. Colin and his two brothers then working in Allora stayed behind and boarded at the Commercial Hotel

Laws family played Rugby Union and soccer.

Some of you will know of Fred Laws who played for Queensland and the  Kangaroos in the 1920's and 1930's and Colin Laws who played for Queensland in the same time frame. However before they took up Rugby League family membes played Rugby Union or Soccer.
In Warwick, Richard and Lionel played Rugby Union for the Junior Boomerangs. The Junior Boomerangs won the competition 3 years in a row but in the 1911-1912 season they were undefeated. Note in the photo below that X marks the spot. Someone in the past has made sure that we know which one is the Laws family member.

Richard is 2nd from the right

The next photo is the team in 1913 and this includes Lionel as well and the caption "Premiers in 1911, 1912 and  1913".

Seated at the front left- Lionel, Seated on the left in the second row -Richard

In 1917 Fred was the Captain and Colin , a member, of the Allora State School Soccer team that won the premiership. Now you are going to ask me what other teams were in the competition, aren't you? Well, I don't know. I found in Trove that they played in Clifton and drew nil all with the Clifton Convent. Read all about it at https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/187509312   as it was a "ding dong game"