Charles Fraser

Charles "Chook" Fraser (1893–1981) was an Australian rugby league footballer and later coach. He was a versatile three-quarter for the Australian national team. He played in 11 Tests between 1911 and 1920 as captain on 3 occasions. He is considered one of the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century

Balmain Chook Fraser was born in Short Street, Birchgrove in 1893. A Balmain junior, Fraser was graded with the Balmain Tigers at age 17, before an extraordinary seventeen year first grade career for the club at either fullback or centre from 1910 to 1926.

He was member of Balmain's premiership winning sides of 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920 and 1924.

Chook Fraser's favourite hobby was sailing. He was a life member of the 18 footer sailing league in Sydney, and was a crew member of several noted boats and skiffs of his era. Charles' third son Jim, also an avid sailor, went on to win the 18-footers World Championship in 1958 sailing in "Jantzen Girl."

Chook Fraser died at Birchgrove in 1981, age 88. He was survived by six children, 17 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, and was buried at Field of Mars Cemetery on 3 February 1981.

In 2006, Fraser was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. In February 2008, Fraser was named in the list of Australia's 100 Greatest Players (1908–2007) which was commissioned by the NRL and ARL to celebrate the code's centenary year in Australia.