DIARY UPDATE: Week 42, 2021

DIARY OF A RETIRED RUGBY LEAGUE WRITER

WEEK 42 2021

MONDAY, OCTOBER 18

For the first time, the BBC is to televise a Test Rugby League double header, featuring Women’s and Men’s games between France and England, from Perpignan in France. The BBC has been televising rugby league since the 1950s, with the 13-man code one of the first sports in the UK to come to terms with TV, with many sports holding out because of the possible impact on crowds. That’s not to say league people weren’t worried about attendances, but as a sport with its strongholds in the North of England, league was happy for the national exposure.

My wife, Marie and I are having a break at O’Reilly’s Guest House in the border country, and today we walk to Python Rock, seeing a black lizard along the way. Watch movie, ‘Story of the Stinson Wreck’ in the afternoon. I didn’t realise the tiny village of ‘Kerry’ had a pub, back in the day. It is featured in the story about one of Australia’s most famous rescue missions. At dinner, we chat to former ANZ Bank Manager, Judy Fredriksen, from Maleny. She is now an editor, writer and researcher, much like myself. She saw noted author, historian and republican, Peter Fitzsimons at an event on the Sunshine Coast and loved him. “He talked non-stop for 45 minutes,” she said. Only 45 minutes! I bet he held the record for under water swimming at school. There is a group of young doctors from the UK staying at O’Reilly’s. They have been here a month and are based on the Gold Coast. Australia has a shortage of doctors.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19

A Channel 7 reporter (Ned Balme, I think it was) phones, wanting information on the history of Redcliffe, following the Dolphins’ acceptance as the NRL’s 17th club. He is ex-Wagga Wagga, where he says Australian rules is getting on top of rugby league. He covered rugby league matches at Gundagai, where my former Murwillumbah Brothers’ teammates, Kel Sherry and Gary ‘Mouse’ Dowling, played with distinction in the 1970s.

Marie and I walk West Canungra Creek Circuit, as far as the first waterfall. We take advantage of room service tonight – excellent slow cooked confit duck. Complimentary wine (Black Cottage Pinot from New Zealand), because of the dramas we experience with the spa, which hardly ever works. My wife loves the spa, and we try to book accommodation which has one, and are always willing to pay extra. But in so many places, the damn things don’t work properly.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20

Return to Brisbane, and the entrance to our town house estate at Grange looks awful, now that all the trees have been removed. One neighbour, from outside the estate, thinks it is an improvement. There is no accounting for taste.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21

Men of League meeting at Broncos and our committee welcomes new member, Kellee Spencer, who works part time for noted artist/cartoonist, Shaun Leahy.

At Stafford Tavern a drinker, with a Canberra background, tells yarns about the Royals Rugby Club in our nation’s capital. Dual international, Michael O’Connor played for the Royals in his young days. One of the bar staff says a barmaid told a patron that cocktails were not available before 5 p.m., which is bullshit. “She’s just lazy,” this staffer said.

Finally, ‘The Courier-Mail’ has a story recognising the passing Frank Burnett. Frank was chairman of Castlemaine Perkins Brewing and was known as ‘Mr Fourex’ during his time at the helm. He died in late September.

Watch T20 World Cup for first time – crap game between Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea.

Channel 9 sports presenter and former Australian Rugby League captain, Wally Lewis says Wayne Bennett is the most famous Dolphin since Flipper. Bennett, Lewis’s coach at the Broncos and in the Queensland, side, has been appointed coach of the new NRL outfit. Easts Tigers hold their awards night, with John Eales made a Life Member. Eales (not to be confused with the former Wallaby of the same name) played for Queensland in 1973, and was centre in Easts’ 1972 Grand Final win over Valleys. Haele Finau, who captained Melbourne Storm Colts side, the Thunberbolts the previous year, wins the Len Conroy Memorial Award as Colts’ Best Player. Len was part of my 1990 and ’94 Kangaroo Supporters’ Tours, and remains a legendary coaching identity at Langlands Park.

Watch the original ‘Get Carter’ movie (1971), starring the ‘oh. so cool’ Michael Caine. It is so good, and so much better than the Sylvester Stallone re-make.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22

Heavy rain results in flooding at Cannon Hill, and Brisbane Airport is smashed by a tornado.

A bloke wants to sell a 1980 State of Origin Cap to our QRL History Committee. Allan Smith, five eighth in the Queensland side, says players were not given caps, so it must been from a merchandise stand. Our committee is not interested, and we don’t pay for items anyway.

Marie and I watch Michael Caine, Jude Law movie, ‘Sleuth’. Marie hates it.

Valleys Diehards Rugby League Club holds their annual reunion at Emerson Park, Grange with the likes of ‘Immortal’, Wally Lewis; Mick Retchless, Marty Scanlan, Russell Hughes, John Crilly, John McCabe, Peter Shields and Bob Arnold present, with Steve Haddan the MC. 

Former Toowoomba Chronicle and (Brisbane) Telegraph rugby league writer, Paul Wicks recall a trip from Toowoomba to Ipswich to cover a Bulimba Cup (inter-city) match. The men providing the transport were coaching legend, Duncan Thompson and chairman of selectors, Reg Reardon (Not to be confused with Reg Regan). Paul said Duncan Thompson insisted on a Scotch and milk at the Marburg Pub on the return trip. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23

Former Television newsreader and journalist, Kay McGrath speaks at a function put on by Reside Communities, who run Samford Grove, where Marie and I plan to live. Marie enjoyed Kay’s address, and was told our new villa should be ready in April.

BBC Telecast women’s League Test. England hooker, Tara Jones is wiped out in a tackle by the French lock. England’s Amy Hardcastle is a great runner. England win 40-4. Then watch the men’s Test, which England win 30-10. French lock, Tony Gigot’s brother, Sam plays soccer with Spartak Moscow. The All Blacks beat USA 104-14 in rugby union Test in Washington DC. The All Blacks dedicate the haka to 25-year-old, Sean Wainui, who was killed in a road accident near Tauranga. The Wallabies beat Japan 32-23 with James Moore voted Japan’s Man of the Match, receiving a Samurai sword as a result. Moore, the son of Queensland Rugby League CEO, Rob Moore, qualified for Japan under residency rules. Rob was a fine rugby league player. Not sure our returned servicemen would be thrilled with an Australian receiving a Samurei Sword.

Former Great Britain five eighth, Willie Aspinall, has died aged 78. He was the only Warrington player in the Great Britain squad which toured Australia and New Zealand in 1966, playing his only Test match in the Lions’ 22-14 win over the Kiwis at Auckland’s Carlaw Park. The following year he captained Warrington against the touring Kangaroos. The St Helens born star was a field goal exponent.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24

Regular readers of these diary updates would know that I am not a great fan of Australian rules football, but I am a fan of their team songs, sung with gusto and passion in the dressing rooms after games, whether at AFL Level, or in the bush. They usually are based around the club’s colours, emblems and/or history. It’s not quite so much a tradition in rugby league, which is a shame. I’m sure some rugby league clubs have great songs. I know the Brisbane Brothers’ song is a beauty. Norths’ is more a drinking song, and a steal from South Sydney. I don’t recall the country clubs I played for – Murwillumbah Brothers and Wingham Tigers – having traditional team songs to be sung in the dressing rooms after full time. An episode of ‘Back Roads’ on the ABC has prompted me to make these comments. I think it was the Rokewood Hoppers (Aussie rules) team who were featured on ‘Back Roads’, singing the club song.

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