Peter McLean
2012 Distinguished Past Student Award winnerÂ
Peter received his award for outstanding achievement in both business and sport following his graduation in 1971 with a Queensland Certificate in Animal Husbandry.
His working life began as a stock agent for the former Winchcombe Carson Ltd., with time spent in Brisbane, Charleville and Goondiwindi from 1972 until 1975.
This was followed by 36 years in the hospitality/hotel industry, which included 12 years as a licensee and 24 years with Lion Nathan Breweries with positions of sales executive, group account manager and regional sales manager based in Mackay and Toowoomba.
However, many will associate the McLean name and rugby union, and Peter was fortunate to maintain this association through his selection as part of the Australian Wallabies from 1978 until 1982, playing in 16 tests.
In 1979 he was a key member of the Wallabies which won the Bledisloe Cup. The first Australian side to do so since 1949, a feat they repeated in 1980.
It has been suggested that Peter is likely to be the only Gatton graduate to have been selected to play for the Wallabies.
From 1976 until 1982, Peter also represented Queensland, playing 84 games during a golden era of Queensland rugby along side players such as his cousin, Paul McLean, Mark Loane and Tony Shaw.
Peter gives full credit to Bill Logan, who was his coach in the Queensland Agricultural College under 18 side, and whose passion for the game was unsurpassed, helping him to transition from school rugby to club rugby and eventually international rugby.