2019 Inductees

Graeme West - Rugby League

Born 5 December 1953 in Hāwera, Graeme was educated locally and played for Hāwera and Taranaki Rugby League clubs. Standing at 6 foot 5 inches, Graeme was a tall second rower who possessed exceptional ball skills for a big man.

Graeme was selected for the NZ Kiwis team in 1975 (Player #517) and played his first of 18 test appearances. In 1980 Graeme was selected in the Kiwis team that toured Great Britain and France, playing in nine of the 16 matches including three tests against Great Britain and two against France. Graeme captained the Kiwis, coached by Graham Lowe, in 1983 to a famous victory over Australia in the second test of a two-test series of Long Park, Brisbane, with a score of 19 – 12. Graeme’s last test match for the NZ Kiwis was the second test against Great Britain at Wigan in 1985.

In 1982 Graeme was signed by Wigan and became a powerhouse in English Rugby League. He played 202 games for Wigan in 1982091 and enjoyed much success in that time.

Graeme then took up coaching and in 1996 coached Wigan to an unprecedented Grand Slam which included the World Club Challenge defeating the Brisbane Broncos in Brisbane, the League Championship, Challenge Cup, Regal trophy and the Premiership – a feat unmatched before or since. He finished his coaching career in 1997-98.

Locally, the Graeme West trophy is still played for annually between primary schools in Hāwera and surrounding areas.

Michael Campbell – Golf

Born 23 February 1969 in Hāwera, Michael was a mere seven years old when he started playing golf and loved playing while in his teens with his whanau around the South Taranaki courses of Hāwera, Manaia and Pātea.

After a very promising amateur period from the late 1980’s to 1990 representing Wellington and New Zealand at various events, Michael won the Australian Amateur Championships in Adelaide in 1992 and was also part of the New Zealand team to win the World Amateur Team Championships in Canada that same year.

Michael turned professional in 1993 and with a few professional wins in New Zealand and Australia under his belt, he was off to Europe to play full time. After playing the European and U.S. PGA tours, Michael won 15 professional titles. His most prestigious win being the US Open Championships at North Carolina in 2005, beating Tiger Woods by two strokes. This win face him a world ranking of number 12 at that time.

On 29 October 2005, Michael was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the European Tour for his US Open win. In the 2006 New Year Honours, Michael was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for Services to Golf.

Michael continued playing golf until 2010 when he had a break to spend time with his family and returned to competitive golf in 2019 on the senior tours in the USA and Europe.