Former Fiji Rugby Union life member John Anthony Moore received the 2015 Fiji Olympic Order at the Grand Pacific Hotel last night.

Known to many as Tony Moore, he was highly respected and admired for the tireless work he contributed towards the betterment of sport in Fiji. Apart from serving concurrently for about 15 years on parliamentary and Government boards, Moore always found the time to perform work for sport, which he loved with great passion.

He was born in 1908 in Labasa and died in 1994.

He was made a life member of FRU in the 1960’s in recognition of his service to the organisation for 32 consecutive years on the executive board that included a term as president.  He was instrumental in overseeing the FRU’s transition from pre-Colonial competition structure to the far more inclusive model that has evolved in what it is today.  He served for several years on the committee and as president of the Imperials Rugby Club.

Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s he was a committee member and former secretary of FASANOC. He actively contributed to working groups within the committee where his advice was often sought and highly respected.

A man who led by example, he served in various positions with the Fiji Amateur Athletics Association until he left Fiji in 1974 to retire in New Zealand. He single –handedly ran car raffles and various others fundraisers, bailing the organisation out of serious financial trouble on at least three occasions.

He was also Team Fiji athletics manager to the inaugural South Pacific Games held in Fiji in 1963 and manager of the Fiji team to the 1968  Olympic Games in Mexico.

He was also Team Fiji athletics manager to the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1974.

He was a 100 metres champion from 1927 to 1938 and captained the Fiji national rugby team at the age of 21.

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