From the 1994 SARU Annual Report
Obituary by Len Perkins
Colin Edward Runge. Born Adelaide 19/10/14, Died Adelaide 10/10/94
"With the recent death of Colin Edward Runge, South Australian Rugby lost not only
one of its previous highest office holders, but also one of that very small band of
pioneer pre-war Rugby men who had continued on in close contact with the game long after
their playing days were over.
And so it was with Colin who came into Rugby in 1937 as a member of the newly-formed Old
Boys Team from Prince Alfred College where he had been educated and where he had excelled
in the sports of boxing, swimming & rowing.
Rugby of course was new to him, but when you stand 6'5" it does not take very long
before your presence is being felt to the fullest extent by all concerned.
Unfortunately the war intervened in Colin's Rugby future, and Colin was off to Canada to
complete his training as a Pilot, and from thence was posted to heavy Bomber Squadron No.
126 in England. This was an R.A.F. Squadron of Lancasters and with whom he was to
fly many missions over Germany including the famus Ruhr Dam Raids during the next two
years.
Colin finished the war as a Flight Lieutenant and returned to Adelaide in 1946 and very
quickly made contact with his old Club - now Old Collegians - and it was then that I first
met this genial giant of a man having his first practic run in a somewhat undersized
pre-war jersey and with a grin on his face from ear to ear showing the joy he was feeling
just to be back on the field once again.
Fortunately for S.A. Rugby, Colin's attributes extended well beyond the playing fields and
his enthusiasm and energy were soon beiing experienced on the Club Executive Committee and
where his ideas for fund raising were without equal, and the Casino evenings he promoted
became a legend throughout the S.A. Rugby community.
Club Vice President - Club President - Club Patron - Club Life Member - all were awarded
to Colin over the ensuing year.
Now one would have thought that such honours would be sufficient, but not
Colin who then transferred his great energy to the S.A. Rugby Union itself, and he was
appointed Chairman of the Management Committee in 1963 and then President from 1964 to
1969. A Life Membership (1965) followed the services he had rendered.
Again one would have thought that enough was enough, but not so, because Colin through all
these years had continued his membership of his other great love - The Adelaide Rowing
Club, and his career there duplicated that of his activities in rugby, viz: Committee,
Vice President, Chairman, President, Life Member and then finally President of the S.A.
Rowing Association.
There is stuill more because Colin was also a great Square Dancer, and when this
entertainment became very popular, he not only became President of the Association, but
also one of the Top ???
So it is hard not to see that Colin Edward Runge was indeed a man of unbounded energy and
enthusiasm for life. He was a Promoter, Entrepreneur, Salesman and it was in this
latter sphere that he made his living, first with his own company, I.F.A.S. which packaged
and designed first aid requirements for factories, offices and domestic use, and then
later expanding into the successful marketing and sales of medical equipment throughout
Australia.
In his private life he married a very wonderful girl, Marnie Tolley in 1948 and this
resulted in the birth of six lovely daughters all of whom grew up to make a well respected
and very happy family unit.
Everybody is going to miss Colin Edward Runge."
Colin Runge - Foundation Player
From the Club's archives ....
Secretary 1940; Club Committee 1947 - for a number of years; President (between Syd &
Bert - 1964); In 1964 organised the first written Consitution & won the Premiership.
(1964 premiership? .... PH)
1947 - Member of the Management Committee of the SARU; Chairman of Council of SARU for 11
years; Chairman of SARU Management Committee for 7 years; President of the SARU for 7
years.
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