March past team practices at Mooloolaba
MONDAY, MARCH 21
My wife, Marie and I book into an apartment at Mooloolaba for five nights, part of the reason, my role as MC at a Men of League Foundation dinner at the local surf club. There is a lost boy near the beachfront, and just before Marie and I can come to his aid, an older couple (at least, I think they are older) take him across the road to the playground, where he is reunited with his dad. There are 13 ships out to see, waiting to enter the Port of Brisbane.
TUESDAY, MARCH 22
A woman comments approvingly, about my Roosters’ polo, as Marie and I walk to the mouth of the Mooloolah River. At ‘The Shack’ Cafe there is a table, where kids have written the things they would do, if they lived to 200. Some of the entries: pat every dog; move to New Zealand; travel Australia.
Former Australian and Queensland forward, Billy Moore is entertaining, as usual, when I interview him at the Men of League function. Billy tells lot of stories from his days playing with North Sydney. When he first moved to Sydney, from Queensland’s Granite Belt, he thought everyone in the city was rich, given the affluence of the North Sydney area.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23
Brisbane Wests’ tragic, Ian Topliss wears the jersey, with Caxton Hotel sponsorship emblazoned across the front, as he walks the waterfront at Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headland. Ian lives at Buddina. Marie and I surf at Mooloolaba, and it is lovely to see a father and young daughter swimming side by side.
Australian tennis champion, Ash Barty retires. In England, Richard Agar quits as Leeds Rhinos’ rugby league coach, following the club’s poor start to the Super League season.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24
There is surf club marching practice on Mooloolaba Beach. Channel 7 sports’ guru, Pat Welsh reckons his home town, Bundaberg provides some of the best march past teams. “There isn’t much of a surf at Bundy, so the local club always makes sure they are spot-on with their marching,” he says. Marie and I have morning tea with family friend, Cynthia Harris at ‘The Shack’. Cynthia, who lives nearby, runs a successful business – Heart Recruiting.
Marie and I enjoy early evening drinks at Mooloolaba Surf Club and a lovely lady (ex-nurse), sits down for a chat. She worked at Charleville and Herberton.
Top English sports writer, Mike Rylance has a nice tribute to former ‘Independent’ League scribe, Dave Hadfield, who died recently. “Dave wrote about (former Great Britain prop), Hugh Waddell, ex Burton-on-Trent Rugby Union, who ran a flower stall. He was signed by Blackpool Rugby League – ‘and the rest is floristy’.”
FRIDAY, MARCH 25
Marie and I return to Brisbane via the butcher shop at Cotton Tree and the Mooloolaba Fish Co-op. The young boke who serves me at the Co-op comes from North Dublin – “Out in the sticks”, he calls it. He describes Thurles as a racing town, after I mention my wife has relatives in that area of Tipperary.
In the NRL, Souths dominate the Roosters, while the Tigers are hopeless against the Warriors, in an ordinary game. Queensland forward, Jai Arrow does X-rated moves in the Rabbitohs’ sheds, as the side celebrates the win over their bitter rivals.
Aussie rules star, Buddy Franklin’s 1000th goal sees fans invade the Sydney Cricket Ground playing area. The AFL match outrates the Chooks and the crowd is double.
Australia wins the Test and cricket series against Pakistan. Every day at the match, there has been a male spectator, in a Parramatta Eels’ rugby league jersey.
SATURDAY, MARCH 26
The day begins with a neighbour making a huge racket, as he uses a gurney to clean a wooden deck at the rear of a town house, while his dogs bark unabated. Most of the stuff he is cleaning from the deck is dog excrement.
There are three crusher tackles in quick succession in the NRL match between Penrith and Newcastle at Bathurst. Newcastle forward, Mitch Barnett is sent off for a forearm on Chris Smith. Kade Snowden was the last Knight marched – back in 2013. I love Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach’s comment about Newcastle centre, Bradman Best’s hairstyle. “It looks like he has a raccoon on his head”. SkySports’ excellent commentator, Andrew Voss can’t understand why Parramatta’s Clint Gutherson has blown up, after the Eels’ score a try – the reason – there has been a shocking ankle dive at Justin Paulo, in the ruck beforehand.
Iona College old boys, Max Plath and Harrison Graham play well for Wynnum in their 26-8 Queensland Cup win over Northern Pride. My brother, Andrew taught at Iona and was heavily involved with rugby league in the primary school.
SUNDAY, MARCH 27
Lismore Library lost much of its collection in the floods, a lady from Cooper’s Shoot (near Bangalow) tells ‘Macca’ (Ian McNamara) on ABC Radio. There are sub-mariners and jet aircraft engineers among the volunteers, helping to clean-up Lismore. Another lady phones from the Toowoomba Show. She is 85, the eldest of 17 children. How did her mum get by without Child Care?
Marie and I attend Broncos v Cowboys game at Suncorp Stadium. Former Australian Associated Press reporter, Wayne ‘Ticker’ Heming says he and I should do a podcast. Greymouth (New Zealand) product, Griffin Neame is great in the Cowboys’ 38-12 win, scoring a try and being strong in the middle. Greymouth is a rugby league stronghold on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. There have been many league Internationals from Greymouth and surrounds, and it seems certain Neame will join the list. One of the most famous products of the region was Ces Mountford, who became a superstar in English rugby league, as a player with Wigan, and then as a coach of Warrington. Cowboys’ centre, Valentine Holmes blitzes Kotoni Staggs and the Cowboys’ former Broncos’ halfback, Tom Dearden plays with confidence, which is good to see, because he was something of a broken man when things didn’t work out in Brisbane.
The Bob Fulton Stand is opened at Brookvale Oval ahead of Manly’s game against Canterbury. Bob was Manly’s favourite son, an English born, Illawarra raised rugby league star, who played most of his senior career at Manly. I first interviewed him at Murwillumbah in 1972, when he was a guest at a local sportsmen’s dinner.
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