WEEK 42 2016
MONDAY, OCTOBER 17
Interview Ron Atkins, at his Arana Hills residence, for Men of League magazine. A bit of a lad in his day, on the Tweed and in Brisbane. Ron is a Life Member of Men of League.
Former Canberra Raiders’ star, Terry Campese is appointed captain-coach of Queanbeyan Blues. Campese, who once described rugby union as boring (a shot at his uncle, David), played for Hull Kingston Rovers in England in 2015/16.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18
Chat to Morningside Aussie rules legend, John Blair at Tony Currie Tyres, where my car is getting serviced. John has a pie cart.
Watch movie ‘A Most Violent Year’. Not bad. Broncos’ Media Manager, Trad McLean phones from Coolangatta Sands Hotel where he has bumped into my former Murwillumbah Brothers’ teammate, Archie Smith.
Our daughter, Melanie heads to Bali, from Hong Kong. A typhoon heads towards HK.
Sydney Morning Herald writer says league players wouldn’t make it in union, and that the New Zealand Warriors sign the union rejects.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19
Interview former Queensland Rugby League fullback, Errol Stock, at his Newstead riverside apartment. Originally from Rockhampton, Errol played for Queensland against France in 1964. He played in Brisbane for Valleys and Wests, as well as having a stint in England – at Bradford Northern – alongside fellow ‘Rocky’ boy, Garth Budge, who played two games for Queensland against New South Wales in 1965.
Grange Thistle soccer club, whose headquarters are next to our residence, have been promoted to Brisbane Premier League. Brothers’ Leagues Club barman, Lewis Collocott is part of their squad.
A tullawong swoops on a lizard on our back fence.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22
My ‘Harry Jepson’ obituary appears in The Courier-Mail today, and History Committee chair, Kevin Brasch phones to thank me. Kevin and Harry were close mates. Jepson was a legendary rugby league administrator in Britain. Watch the Cox Plate horse race from Melbourne. The anthem singer is atrocious.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23
Marie and I leave Brisbane today for a New South Wales’ holiday. First stop, Warwick (still in Queensland) where we have excellent brunch at Bluebird Cafe, which is housed in an old petrol station. The home cooked beans are exceptional. Next stop, Goondiwindi (still in Queensland) where we admire the statue of champion race horse, Gunsynd. (Country and Western legend, Tex Morton had a hit with the song, Goondiwindi Grey). Cross the border and the creeks are full, as we head to Moree. Explore the town before enjoying the artesian baths at our motel. Dinner at the RSL, a big club, which is quiet. I order a pot of beer instead of a middie. (‘Only Queenslanders drink pots’, says the barmaid). Courtesy bus from the club, with a few other Queenslanders.
Our daughter, Melanie goes to Macau for American Women’s Association 60th anniversary dinner, which she has helped organise.
At Avignon in France, the Wayne Bennett coached England side beats France 40-6. Disappointingly, the English fly in and out on the same day, instead of promoting the code in the region. Nevertheless, the crowd of around 15,000 has local officials smiling. The Kangaroos are based a Stafford in England, well outside rugby league’s traditional areas.
Photo: Errol Stock with his Bradford Northern blazer.
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