Russell Fairfax in action for Easts’ Roosters
MONDAY, MARCH 28
RadioTAB’s Andrew Courtice echoes my thoughts, in relation to the crowd coming onto the field at the Sydney Cricket Ground at the weekend, to celebrate Buddy Franklin’s milestone goal for the Swans, in the AFL. There was inherit danger in the mob taking over, although the crowd scenes undoubtedly made many in rugby league envious.
My wife, Marie; her sister, Carolyn and niece, Teneil, have morning tea at ‘Flying Nun Cafe’, Samford. Verdict? ‘Average’. Registrations at the Samford Stags Rugby League Club are up five percent on last year, and 30 percent pre-Covid.
TUESDAY, MARCH 29
Former Broncos’ prop, Gavin Allen says his son, Josh is going well at the Canberra Raiders, despite a few knee issues.
Former Easts Roosters’ fullback, Russell Fairfax celebrates his 70th birthday with a family dinner at Little Bay, in Sydney. ‘Fairy’ played for Australia in rugby union and New South Wales in league. He played league as a junior and only switched to union when his school, Matraville High, changed codes in 1969. I had played against Russell in 1968, when I was prop in the North Coast side and Russell played fullback for Sydney in the State under-9 stone rugby league titles at Graham Park, Gosford. (Take note administrators – weight divisions can work.).
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30
Former Brisbane Brothers’ centre, Murray Schultz missed the flight back to Brisbane after an Amco Cup knockout match against Balmain in Sydney in 1976. A late night was to blame. Murray and I enjoy a coffee at Aspley. He reminds me that earlier in 1976, he had played for North Queensland against Canterbury-Bankstown in the Amco Cup, making him possibly the only player to have turned out for two different sides, in the one year, during the competition. Murray marked Great Britain centre, Eric Hughes in the North Queensland match, which was part of a Lang Park double header. I played for Brothers in the early game, a win over Penrith, when I marked Ross Gigg. Murray made his First Grade debut for his home town, Bowen, against Hughenden, as a 17-year-old. He returned to Bowen from Brisbane, at the end of the 1975 season, but for work reasons, returned to Brisbane soon after the 1976 footy season began, and re-joined Brothers. Former Test forward, Bryan Niebling, a product of South Burnett football, has become a (voluntary) welfare officer for Men of League Foundation.
Test cricket great, Shane Warne’s Memorial Service at the MCG starts with a didgeridoo being played on the roof of the stadium. TV personality, Eddie McGuire is MC. Warne’s adult children speak well
THURSDAY, MARCH 31
Neighbour, Len O’Brien and I discuss jobs Aussies took in London back in the 1970 and 80s. He worked for caterers, who had contracts at places such as the Guildhall. Len ultimately worked for a tour company, Kon Tiki. I worked for an employment agency, and went wherever they sent me, usually to factory production lines or warehouses, during my working holiday with my wife, in 1977-78.
Gold Coast Titans v Wests Tigers match is so bad. The score is 2-2 at halftime. Wests Tigers’ hooker, Jacob Liddle is always throwing forward passes! Channel 9 commentator, Peter Psaltis asks Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin: “What would Titans’ coach, Justin Holbrook be thinking?” Fatty: “Geez. I hope we win”. And they do.
Former Great Britain forward, John Gray and club director, Martin Lawson are made Life Members of North Sydney Bears. Gray also played for Manly, after making Australia his home, following Britain’s 1974 tour ‘down under’.
FRIDAY, APRIL 1
Harness racing returns to Brisbane’s Albion Park for the first time since the February floods. The Australian Junior Surf Life Saving Titles are held at North Kirra on the Gold Coast, and there is a big contingent from North Queensland.
SATURDAY, APRIL 2
Leeds Rhinos’ Rugby League have had their worst start to a season, at their home ground, Headingley, in the Super League era, losing today 26-0 to St Helens. Saints’ Australian coach, Kristian Woolf rates veteran hooker, James Roby the best leader he has ever seen. SkySports’ commentator, former Great Britain forward, Phil Clarke says St Helens’ development program is light years ahead of Leeds, which is shocking news, given Leeds is a city of 820,000, while St Helens has a population of 110,000.
There is a sad scoreline at Emerson Park, Grange, with Valleys’ reserve grade beating Souths Logan 100-0! Souths’ first grade, with Burdekin product, Phil Dennis as captain-coach, put up a much better show, but still go down. Former Test halfback, Scott Prince is preparing his Valleys’ women’s side for a trial against the Goodna club from Ipswich. One of the Valleys’ players is Portia Bourke, the daughter of former Brisbane Souths, Valleys, Queensland Residents’ and Brisbane Broncos’ fullback, David Bourke. The sin bin official at Emerson Park is former politician, Andrew Bartlett, who doesn’t like wearing the official’s bib, and only puts it on when someone is actually banished to the bin. I arrive home in time to watch Manly play Canberra, and Manly halfback, Daly Cherry-Evans’ kicking game is spot on as the Sea Eagles win 25-6.
Members of the ADF march through Casino, the town of my wife’s birth, and the locals come out in force to say thanks, for the work the soldiers did cleaning up flood damage.
SUNDAY, APRIL 3
Jillaroos’ forward, Steph Hancock scores two tries in the NRLW semi-final for Gold Coast against St George Illawarra at Leichhardt Oval. The crowd is similar to when her dad, Rohan played there for Queensland against New South Wales – not very big. Rohan first played for Queensland when they were relegated to the back blocks in Sydney, as inter-state football was shunned by Sydneysiders. Australia win Women’s Cricket T50 World Cup Final in Christchurch.
Watch build-up to Rangers v Celtic ‘old firm’ match, with Rangers’ fans singing ‘Every Saturday We Follow’. Some of those fans smash bottles near the goal posts. Nice.
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