RAISON, Wayne

BORN AUGUST 31ST 1948 in Kempsey, New South Wales, Wayne Raison moved to Queensland in 1954 at the age of six. He took up ice skating and ice hockey at Mowbray Park ice rink in Brisbane in 1962 with Ray Hess, Geoff Digby and others.

In 1965, there were only three ice hockey teams in Brisbane which meant one team had a buy every week. Canadian Jack Wallace wanted to make a fourth team and set about scouting good skaters at the local rink. A young figure skater stood out and Wallace invited him to join the new Blackhawks team.

"Wayne was a top scorer," recalled Wallace who played Centre. "He had an uncanny knack of getting into the right spot to make himself open, and the shot always went in. Best winger I ever played with and a great all-rounder". Wallace moved to Sydney and joined the Bombers and later Wayne went down and joined the team. Jack returned to Canada in 1979.

From age 15 in 1963, Raison represented Queensland every year until 1978, except 1974 when he moved to Sydney and played for the Warringah Bombers in the NSW league. He won the Brown Trophy at Prince Alfred Park Iceland in August 1965, coached by Arthur Gillard. The final of the third Brown Trophy pitted newcomers Queensland against a seasoned Victorian side coached by Olympian Rus Jones. Queensland won back-to-back the following year.

In 1973, Raison, Ray Hess and Peter Nixon went to Melb to play Brown Trophy. They made the final and although beaten they were eligible for selection to the National Men's Team. The right-winger represented Australia with the National Senior Ice Hockey Team in the 1974 World Championships in France, coached by Elgin Luke.

Raison was the first Queenslander to represent his country in ice hockey. He won the one and only Goodall Cup for his state in 1977, coached by ex-pat Canadian Russ Trudeau. Raison officiated ice hockey games to fill in occasionally and also played Rugby League and golf.

The former Brisbane Blackhawks, Queensland and Australian representative died peacefully at Noosa in Queensland on August 31st 2021, following a brief but brave battle with pancreatic cancer. It was his 73rd birthday. He is survived by partner Valerie, son Shane, daughter-in-law Lizzy and stepsons Oliver and Daniel.