Community & Business
5 November, 2025
Front Page: Vale John 'Pug' Farragher
Gilgandra has sadly lost one of its favourite sons with the passing of John 'Pug' Farragher OAM
Born in Gilgandra on the first of April in 1957 Pug played his football with the local club junior and senior clubs up until his obvious talent and skill took him to the Penrith Panthers in 1977 in what was then then the NSW Rugby League Premiership.
Pug made his first-grade debut with Penrith in 1978 and was just seven games into his promising football career when his world was turned upside down on a Sunday afternoon in May when was playing front row for the Panthers at Henson Park against Newtown.
A scrum collapsed and he was left a quadriplegic!
To say that the news sent a huge shockwave through the Gilgandra community is a huge understatement with the town in pure disbelief that such a thing could happen.
Many people still report that they can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they received that fateful news.
The town was shaken to its very core to think that such a thing could happen to their sporting hero and great mate!
This was to be the fight of his life and what a fight he put in!
Pug’s courage, determination and resilience saw him endure four years of hard rehabilitation before he made a comeback in 1988 with the Penrith Panthers, but this time around not in the front row, but as the front of office at the Penrith Leagues Club.
His public relations skills soon made him a very popular figure within the club and the Penrith community, and he ended up working in that role for some four decades.
Many Gilgandra school excursions enjoyed the hospitality shown to them by Pug over the years as did his many countless Gilgandra visitors, but his generosity and engagement with people wasn’t reserved only for those from his beloved hometown and he was widely recognised as being “a great bloke” who had a genuine interest in everyone and would do anything he could to help anyone.
Such was his impact on the Penrith people that in 2007 he was named as the Penrith Citizen of the Year.
This accolade was added to in 2016 when he was awarded an OAM for his services to the Penrith community and to rugby league.
In 2022 Pug was elected to the Panthers Group Board of Directors and remained in that role until his passing. He was a life member of the club.
Quite fittingly the Penrith Panthers Courage and Determination Award is named in his honour and handed out annually.
Similarly, the Gilgandra Panthers annually present the John Farragher Encouragement Award.
Whilst Pug spent most of his life in Penrith, he never forgot his roots and came home as often as he could.
In 2014 he organised a fundraising event at the Gilgandra Shire Hall with all the proceeds to be donated to the Gilgandra and District Cancer Fundraisers. Apart from donating a large quantity of items from his own personal memorabilia collection he “called in a few favours” from his Penrith mates and what an incredible night it turned out to be with over $60,000 being raised!
In a heartfelt speech that night, he thanked the Gilgandra community for the support shown to him and to his family!
He concluded by saying, “It’s just good to be home!”
Sadly, Pug has now found a new home, but he will never be forgotten in Gilgandra!
Rest In Peace Pug! You have earnt it!
