Tributes have poured in for one of Cobar’s favourite ladies, Peg Coughlan, following her recent passing.
The 90 year old mother of two, grandmother of 11 and great grandmother to 19, was laid to rest on Friday at a funeral service at the Cobar Catholic Church.
Members of the Cobar Senior and Junior Rugby League clubs formed a guard of honour to farewell Peg who had dedicated almost 50 years of her life to supporting the local clubs.
Marjorie Joyce Coughlan, better known as Peg (nee Lancaster), was born in Portland NSW on August 20, 1927, the second eldest of eight children. She was affectionately nicknamed Peg by her brothers.
Peg grew up in Portland and on leaving school she joined the Post Office where she worked as a receptionist for 17 years.
She met her husband Dick Coughlan at a football match in 1950 and they were married six years later.
The couple had two children, Cathy and Dennis. The family settled in Cobar in 1970.
Peg was involved in community sports in most places she lived including playing hockey at State level in her early 20s.
She was a very passionate rugby league supporter, splitting allegiances between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Cobar Roosters.
Barry Knight, who was one of three friends who delivered the eulogy at her funeral, recalls that Peg’s reputation as a rugby league fanatic preceded her when she moved to Cobar.
“My uncle Vic Smith from Cowra delivered groceries to Peg each week at Wyangala, and he warned us about her passion for the game.
“They would spend many hours debating what was happening in local footy,” Barry said.
When Peg and her family moved to Cobar she was involved with the community straight away helping out with Brownies, Girl Guides, Legacy, swimming club, school canteens and of course Cobar Junior Rugby League.
For the next 30 years Peg was involved with every aspect of junior football and served as the club secretary and also group secretary for many years.
“If she wasn’t on the official table she was in the canteen selling pies,” Barry said.
“In her later years she would be on the gate at the senior league with her close friend Coral Toomey. She retired three times from that job,” he joked.
Peg was awarded Life Membership of Cobar Junior Rugby League, was also a life Member of the Far West Minor League and later was honoured with Life Membership of Cobar Senior Rugby League.
Barry said Peg also spent many years working at each of the three school’s canteens.
“Cobar and Cobar rugby league have lost one of our greatest. Rest in peace mate.”
