Community & Business
10 July, 2022
Great club man remembered
THE Mareeba United Football Club and the Mareeba International Club would not be standing today if it wasn’t for the efforts of Alfio Moriconi.
The father of two daughters, five grandchildren, sadly passed away on 8 June 2022 at the age of 89.
Alfio spent much of his life dedicated to both the Mareeba United Football Club and the Mareeba International Club, having a hand in the founding of both of the longstanding organisations.
He was born on 1 January 1933 to Pietro and Rosa in Camaiore Italy, a small-town half an hour west of Pisa in the province of Lucca in Tuscany, a beautiful little town nestled in high and low mountains off the north-western coast of Italy.
Alongside Mauro Dati and a few other boys from Tuscany, Alfio relocated to Australia in 1952 and despite moving, his Italian homeland always held a special place in his heart.
Alfio worked around Queensland during the 50s including sugarcane and tobacco farms, he also played his first game of rugby league on Australian soil in Goodiwindi in 1954.
He moved back to the far north in 1956, securing a job working on Vince Dati’s farm in Walkamin before briefly moving to Melbourne and falling in love with his neighbour and soon to be wife, Stella.
Stella and Alfio decided to move back to Mareeba and work on the Dati farm and soon welcomed their two daughters Jenny and Lina in the early 60s.
It was in the 70s that Alfio’s name was spread amongst the community as he and Serafino Dati decided to open a business together making bricks.
In 1972 the brick works business opened, and a year later expanded with another brick works in Tolga with the decision to sell the business coming in 1979 after a few years in business – It is still operating today as Tableland Concrete Blocks.
The sale of the brick works allowed Alfio to essentially retire from work aged 46 years but it never stopped him moving and being involved in the community.
After the sale of the brick works Alfio operated an ice cream shop, tried his hand as a real estate agent and drove the bus for the Tafe College where he earnt the nickname Brockie.
The next 4 decades of Alfio’s life were dedicated to soccer in Far North Queensland, namely the Mareeba Bulls which he was involved in the founding.
His dedication to football in the region led to Alfio being named a life member of both the Mareeba Bulls and the Soccer Far North Zone as it was known at the time, a Centenary Medal from the Prime Minister for the distinguished service he made to the community through the Mareeba United Football Club and a grandstand at the club named in his honour.
Alfio’s commitment and drive to the Bulls was instrumental in bringing Mareeba United into the state league in the late 70's and early 80's, he was also involved again when the club returned to the QLD state league from 2009 to 2012.
Alfio gave his all to the club in every way, from administration, to grounds maintenance, to taking money on the gate - he was always at the heart and soul of the club.
Some fans think of the Bulls today and still think of Alfio and his wonderous achievements for the club.
