A boardwalk named in the honour of a late rugby league legend James "Jim" Paterson (Pato) has officially opened, with Townsville City Council proud to recognise Pato's significant contribution to the game.
The "Jim Paterson Boardwalk", which links the city to Townsville Country Bank Stadium, was formally named last Friday with Pato's family, friends, fellow South Rugby League Football Club "Old Bulls" and councillors in attendance.
Townsville Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said Jim's legacy as a league star of international standing was only surpassed by his commitment to the North, the region to which he dedicated his professional and personal life.
"Between 1958 and 1966, Jim played 24 games for Queensland and eight Test matches for Australia and 1966, he led North Queensland to that famous win over Great Britain," Cr Greaney said.
"The big city clubs came knocking and they all wanted a piece of him – Jim was a great player, but at his core he was a North Queenslander through and through.
"Jim was a man who showed us that greatness doesn't require leaving where you come from, sometimes it requires staying and contributing to building something far greater than yourself."
Born in South Townsville in 1934, Jim enjoyed a humble upbringing that saw him walk barefoot through mudflats to attend South Townsville State School.
He lived a short distance from Victoria Park, home of the South Townsville rugby league team, with his early exposure to the Foley Shield competition setting the stage for a lifelong passion for the game.
Jim made his senior debut for South Townsville in 1953 and quickly rose through the ranks, representing Townsville and North Queensland in 1954.
A versatile player who moved to the forwards after debuting as five-eighth, Jim's rugby league career spanned more than a decade and saw him become one of North Queensland's most celebrated players.
He played for clubs across Queensland, including Rockhampton, Toowoomba Valleys, Innisfail, Herbert River, representing the state 24 times between 1958 and 1966, and playing as part of the historic 1959 Queensland team that defeated New South Wales in a full series.
He earned eight Test caps for Australia from 1959 to 1961, becoming Kangaroo No. 343, and was selected for the prestigious Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France in 1959.
In 1966, he captained North Queensland to a famous victory over Great Britain, cementing his legacy as a regional icon.
After retiring from playing in 1968, Paterson remained deeply involved in the sport as a selector for Townsville, Queensland Country, Queensland, and the Australian national team.
Jim passed away in Townsville in 2019, aged 84.
The boardwalk named in in honour is located along the existing pedestrian boardwalk linking Little Fletcher Bridge and Graham Murray Place, leading to the Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
