John Fitzgerald – Opinion

Marjorie Jackson is Lithgow’s international sporting hero, a world-acclaimed multiple Olympic gold medal athlete, and is honoured with her statue in Cook Street Plaza fronting Lithgow’s Main Street.

Her feats are legendary, and her statue in the centre of town is an appreciation from the local community for one of their own.

However, another local sports person now overdue for consideration for similar recognition is rugby league’s Barry Rushworth.

Also a Lithgow native, Barry, in his sporting evolution playing for his local club, and at 21 moved to the Parramatta Eels in the Sydney competition, from which within 12 months, he attained international status.

Eight years of selection in the top Parramatta Eels’ team from 1964-71 was followed a few years after retirement with a stint back in country football.

It during this time in 1974, that Rushworth appeared alongside many ‘unknowns’ in the giant-killing Western Division team which annexed the midweek Amco Cup against formidable Sydney first grade combinations in 1974, defeating Penrith 6-2 in the now famous final.

Following his playing days, Barry never strayed far from Lithgow, working for 20 years behind the bar at his Wallerawang pub and quietly sponsoring local sporting teams until his retirement in 2022.

So, again, I would encourage the local community to support a campaign to have Barry Rushworth’s accomplishments as a true Lithgow legend recognised with a statue, perhaps in the vacant space alongside and complementary to Marjorie Jackson’s statue.

During his football training sessions as a youth in Lithgow he was occasionally joined by Jackson, and it would be fitting if Rushworth could again join her as the town’s second international sporting star immortalised in bronze.