Old Brothers’ teammates, Peter Skerman (left) and Reg Cannon
MONDAY, APRIL 4
Former Queensland Rugby League forward, Reg Cannon calls into the Stafford Tavern for an ale, and a chat, with former teammate, Peter Skerman. Reg says ‘Skermo’, who played above his weight, and knew no fear, would finish games with blotches on his body from the whacks he took.
The flood damage along Kedron Brook is extensive, far more so than my wife, Marie and I had imagined. There is a massive engineering challenge ahead, for Brisbane City Council.
English friends, John and Glenda Tapp are in Toledo Spain. John is surprised that swords are sold as souvenirs. Marie and I bought one when we visited Toledo in 1978. We brought it back to Australia in our luggage. Gads.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5
Learn of the passing of former Telegraph and Courier-Mail work colleague, Stuart Scott, 71, at Noosa. His wife, Lynda was also a prominent journalist. Stuart died just a few weeks short of he and Lynda being able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Stuart always had such a lovely nature. He was a motoring expert. Also learn of the passing of American pop star, Bobby Rydell. ‘Swingin’ School is the first song that comes to mind. It’s not what you think.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6
Norths Kallangur host a get-together of Brisbane Rugby League ‘old boys’. Chief organiser, former Test forward, David Wright, interviews me; former Redcliffe hooker, Bob Jones and former Brothers’ goal kicking winger, Ian Dauth. ‘Dauthy’ is now 73, and a great grandfather. I have a lovely chat with former Norths’ fullback, Barry Spring about field goals and the quality of footballs today, compared with those of the 1960s and ’70s. Barry was brought to league from Australian rules, by Norths’ super coach, Bob Bax, at a time when field goals were worth two points. He kicked them from everywhere. Former State five eighth, Steve Williams was nicknamed ‘ice creams’, because he could sell ice creams to the Eskimos, I presume.
Marie and I have drinks at revamped Crown Hotel, Lutwyche. Chat to former Wallaby, Tony Shaw on the way. He recently visited former Reds’ coach, John ‘Knuckles’ Connolly, who could spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, following a fall. Tony played three Tests for the Wallabies against England at Twickenham, and missed one, as a result of a punch he threw at a Scotsman, at Murrayfield.
THURSDAY, APRIL 7
Former Broncos’ forward, Gavin Allen is battling insurance companies over the flood damage to his Stafford business, ‘Crystal Print’. ‘Jed’ said 22 of the 28 printing machines in his complex were damaged, and some have had to be written off. ‘Jed’ goes on daily walks with another former Bronco, James ‘Dallas’ Donnelly. Former Wynnum-Manly and Canterbury-Bankstown forward, Brian ‘Nobby’ Battese is manager of a New South Wales Catholic Colleges side. Brian hails from Lismore, and his father ‘Nobby’ Senior, played alongside my father, Jon Ricketts in the South Lismore side in the late 1940s.
FRIDAY, APRIL 8
Staunch Republican, and prolific letter writer, David Muir is special guest at Beer and Beef club lunch at Morrison Hotel. Muir, who went to university with noted media personality, Steve Haddan, is a dream to interview, and I don’t need to ask many questions. Muir recently had lunch with Courier-Mail editor, Chris Jones. He also caught up with former Test fullback, Darren Lockyer at the plush Queensland Club. Not the sort of place you would expect to see a republic advocate.
Our granddaughter, Parker, attends Matildas versus New Zealand women’s soccer international in Townsville, and scores an autograph from Matilda’s superstar, Sam Kerr. Australia win 2-1.
Former Broncos’ trainer, Mark ‘Chopper’ Burgess says the current Broncos are choir boys compared with the players of 20 or so years ago. He says the club culture is 10 times better than that time.
Former Test wicket keeper, Ian Healy attends a sportsman’s lunch at Petersham RSL in Sydney, with Graeme ‘Heaps’ Hughes the MC. Hughes played cricket and rugby league for New South Wales.
SATURDAY, APRIL 9
Stafford butcher recalls attending Australia v Great Britain Test at Lang Park in 1974, and praises the starring role played by Australian centre, Bob Fulton. Taree product, Geoff Richardson, from Brisbane Wests, was Australia’s five eighth. Bottle shop manager reckons Lismore and Ballina people should have been better prepared for the recent floods. Everyone’s an expert. He made his comments after I bought a six pack of Seven Mile Pale Ale, a beer brewed in Ballina.
Cronulla stalwart, Paul Gallen gets a few listeners off-side, when he says dogs should be kept outside. “What ever happened to dog houses,” he says. What indeed?
St George Illawarra centre, Zac Lomax butchers a try in the win over Parramatta. All he had to do was draw and pass, the most basic of league skills. The women always get that ‘skill’ right, the men often over-think things. And, please – get rid of the Captain’s Challenge. It’s a privilege the players don’t deserve, and it stops the flow of play. Toowoomba Valleys’ ground is officially named after the club’s favourite son, John ‘Cracker’ McDonald, ahead of a match against Dalby. ‘Cracker’ played 13 Tests for Australia between 1966 and 1970, his first from Toowoomba, his last from Manly-Warringah.
Channel 7 has a report about the fact there are very few female statues around Brisbane. I would suggest they haven’t looked behind the bar in many pubs and clubs.
SUNDAY, APRIL 10
A climate protester runs onto Shark Park with a flare. He would have had more credibility if he had run on without something not belching smoke and rubbish into the atmosphere. Today’s ‘Body and Soul’ magazine, in The Sunday Mail, is basically an advertorial for veganism.
Cricket superstar, Imran Khan has been ousted as Pakistan’s Prime Minister. I had the honour of interviewing Imran at Brisbane’s Hilton Hotel, when he was Pakistan captain, in January, 1982. It was a one-on-one interview, over an orange juice, in the hotel bar. I interviewed another Pakistani player, in his room, over KFC. Can’t remember which player.
A new bridge is being opened at Echuca on the Murray River, and callers to Macca’s show on ABC radio, share their stories of bridge openings. I covered the opening of a railway overpass at Salisbury in Brisbane’s south, in the 1970s. Does that count?
Our grandsons, Ethan and Connor love the fact former Bronco, John Driscoll has put a swing in a tree outside his property at Grange. “Let’s go to Mr Driscoll’s swing,” they say.
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