Boy from Bundy Pat Welsh inducted into Suncorp Media Hall of Fame

The face and voice of Queensland sport Pat Welsh was given one hell of a send-off in Brisbane on Friday with almost 200 people turning out for his Testimonial roast.

Fittingly, the gathering was held on the main concourse of Suncorp Stadium — a special venue where he attended many of his 75 State of Origin games.

After 47 years of holding the microphone up in front of some of Australia’s and the world’s most famous athletes and sportspeople, Welsh has finally called time on his magnificent career as a sportscaster and news reader for the 7 Network.

During almost five decades, Welsh covered every major sporting event in Australia and overseas, from rugby league, rugby union, motor racing, horse racing, boxing, cricket, golf, tennis and, and he would be disappointed if I didn’t mention his infamous trip to Birdsville to report on the big race meeting there.

We won’t mention the video footage of him sleeping on the airport tarmac under the wing of a parked plane or how he happened to be there.

Welsh reported on Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games, Winter Olympics, major golf tournaments, and feature race meetings, including many Melbourne Cups.

He was friends with many of Australia’s leading sportsmen and sportswomen.

Listed among those elite stars were former world number one golfer, Greg Norman, former Australian cricketers, Allan Border, Ian Healy, Jimmy Maher, race car legend and King of the Mountain, Dick Johson, and numerous Olympians, many of whom attended his special day on Friday.

Norman and Johnson both sent video messages to Welsh which were shown on the Stadium’s big screen.

People traveled from far and wide to share in his special day.

They came from country towns, interstate, and even overseas with Lindsay Hall, whose family Welsh stayed with when he first came to Brisbane, flying in from London to be part of the surprise.

Welsh earned the nickname “Whisper Pat” on the fairways of golf tournaments around the world.

He became good friends with many of Australia’s greatest golfers, including Greg Norman and the late Jack Newton.

Ian Baker-Finch, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Wayne Grady, Peter Senior and more recently Cameron Smith joined the list over the years.

He had a direct line to all of them as he did with most sports stars and athletes.

He forged close friendships with two of Australia’s greatest golfers, Norman and Newton, whose wife Jackie and daughter Christy attended his testimonial along with family and friends.

In another surprise, Welsh was inducted into the Suncorp Stadium Media Hall of Fame by Queensland Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

Welsh was 18 when he made the bold move from Bundaberg to Brisbane.

In his formative years, he reported on general news, including politics, before his love of sport and his passion for horse racing could no longer be held back.

Now, 65, he has called full-time on a remarkable TV career, covering sports, interviewing the world’s best athletes, and hosting several sporting shows along the way.

I first met Pat over 40 years ago after I moved from Sydney to Brisbane to work for AAP.

He and a number of other Brisbane journalists including Bernie Pramberg, David Falkenmire, and Bart Sinclair helped me settle into the job and we have remained mates ever since.

I chatted with Pat about those days and about his emotions at Friday’s send-off, which was almost the best-kept secret in Brisbane when he walked into the Stadium to a standing ovation.

“I was embarrassed,” said Welsh of the turnout which included sporting luminaries such as Allan Border, Ian Healy, Brian Kerle, Olympians Susie O’Neill, Natalie Cook, Steve Titmus, AFL star Richard Champion, super coach Wayne Bennett, and a cast of rugby league stars including Allan Langer, Trevor Gillmeister, Steve Renouf, Chris Johns, and Shane Webcke.

Many of his work colleagues from Channel 7 and some of the best Queensland sporting journalists attended out of respect for everything Welsh has achieved in his field.

“I’m like you. I’m just a poor simple journo and all we do is tell stories and try and tell them the best way we possibly can.

“That means having free access to some of the greatest athletes of our time only because of the job we do.

“From the selection of people here today from the Allan Borders, the Susie O’Neills, the Nat Cooks, and all the others including Brian Kerle, I’m just blown away, absolutely blown away.”

“There’s a lot of love in the room today and believe me, it is reciprocated.

One of the highlights of the day was Welsh relating the classic “Helmet Vashing” story from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Welsh is now looking forward to enjoying life and maybe even playing some golf again, unleashing what he calls his “power slice” but what was known by those who played with him many years ago, as a “gay fade”

“As you know, I am the only man who can get around Albion Park in three shots,” joked Welsh.

So, the boy from Bundy has called time and retires an icon, having done It all.

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Justin

1 year ago

What a great story Wayne Heming. An amazing and fitting tribute to a crafty and well respected sports journalist. Pat Welsh is up there with the best in the business, and sets the bar high for anyone that chooses to follow in his footsteps. Congratulations Pat Welsh 💯👍

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