Vale Cole Bakes
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are mourning the passing of former first-grade prop and second-rower forward, Col ‘Fisherman’ Bakes, who died on the 29th May at Taree, following a long and brave battle with dementia, at the age of 93.
Colin Charles Bakes was born on 26 April 1933 in Taree, NSW, and grew up in nearby Forster, where he played his junior rugby league. Before making his way to Sydney, Bakes worked as a fisherman in Forster, an occupation that followed him into his football career and earned him the fitting nickname “Fisherman” during his playing days in the city.
In 1956, he played for the Entrance Tigers in the Central Coast grand final, scoring a try in their 12–7 victory over Ourimbah.
The following season, Mr Bakes successfully trialled with South Sydney and was graded by the club. He spent three seasons with the Rabbitohs, making eight first-grade appearances. His top-grade debut came against Balmain in Round 14 of the 1957 season, when he became South Sydney Player No. 444.
The big, robust forward found himself at the centre of controversy during the 1957 semi-final against Wests at the SCG, played before a crowd of 46,957. Midway through the second half, referee Darcy Lawler sent Bakes from the field for kicking an opponent. He was subsequently found guilty by the judiciary and suspended for four weeks—a substantial penalty by the standards of the era. Despite being reduced to twelve men, Souths still won comfortably, 26–13, and advanced to meet Manly in the preliminary final the following week.
Away from football, Mr Bakes worked as a tyre retreader during his time in Sydney.
He left the Rabbitohs at the end of the 1959 season and spent the next three years playing for Smithtown on the NSW North Coast. In 1962, he was selected for Country Seconds in the annual City–Country fixture and later that year represented North Coast against the touring Great Britain Lions.
Mr Bakes concluded his playing career in the Newcastle premiership with Norths. In his first season with the club, he earned representative honours for Newcastle against the touring New Zealand Kiwis.
By 1972, Col had returned to his fishing roots. The electoral roll for that year recorded him living at 27 Tuncurry Street, Tuncurry, with his occupation once again listed as fisherman. He lived there with his wife, Shirley Bastin (1936–2020), whose occupation was recorded as home duties.
On behalf of everyone associated with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr Col Bakes during this very difficult time.
