IT WAS a case of honouring the past and paying tribute to a Waratah sporting legend at Waratah-Mayfield Multicultural Men’s Shed on Wednesday, when Ray Frost was presented with a Men’s Shed restored garden bench.

Mr Frost, 92, has been associated with multiple sports in Waratah, most notably as part of Waratahs Rugby Union Club and Waratah-Mayfield District Cricket Club.

He played 160 first-grade rugby games for the Waratahs from 1946-57 and coached for a number of years after retiring.

He is the only surviving member of the club’s inaugural first-grade side, which entered the division in 1946.

He played cricket for Waratah-Mayfield from 1950-70, and is a life member of both clubs.

Mr Frost’s wife, Claire, had approached Hunter Multicultural Communities – which oversees the Men’s Shed –  about the restoration and the organisation, which occupies the old Waratah Bowling Club, jumped at the opportunity as the former club’s main green was named the Ray Frost Green.

Mr Frost recalled being invited to the bowling club in the 1980s to “help pull a few weeds”, only to hang around for about “20 years” as a greenkeeper’s labourer.
Waratahs president Greg Taylor said Mr Frost was a “sporting legend” and the project demonstrated “what a men’s shed can provide back to the community”.
“He’s done a lot in sport, but he has also given back to the sport,” Mr Taylor said.

“He’s been a big advocate and supporter of the rugby club, cricket club, bowls and squash.

“A true identity and a great sporting [and] community person.”