Greg and Melanie Mariotto read to nephews, Connor and Ethan Ricketts
MONDAY, MAY 16
Trent Barrett ‘resigns’ as Canterbury-Bankstown after failing to lift the Bulldogs out of the NRL cellar. No doubt he was sacked. Dual Dally M winner, Mick Potter is announced as interim coach. If all the Canterbury players displayed the commitment of forward leader, Josh Jackson, perhaps things would not be so dire at Belmore.
My wife, Marie and I drive to Samford to see how building work is progressing on our villa. Sales manager, Desley Arnold introduces us to one of the residents, John Pollock, who hails from Yungaburra in North Queensland. John is a keen cyclist and motor bike rider. Back at Grange, a Kedron High School student sings as she cycles by our place. Lovely.
TUESDAY, MAY 17
Fonzie Abbot at Albion – for a decent coffee – is first port of call, after we collect our daughter, Melanie Mariotto and her husband, Greg at Brisbane International Airport, after their flight from Singapore. That night we enjoy dinner at The Regatta Hotel.
Learn of the passing of former Queensland Rugby League independent director, Bruce Prescott, aged 71. Bruce was a legal specialist, who loved his football.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18
The Salvation Army take two parts of our three piece wall unit. Fish and chips at Sandgate with Mel and Greg, returning to Grange via our house of 28 years -18 Tedman Street, Zillmere. Melanie recalls cycling in the area; St Flanan’s Primary School’s (once) famous Flarana Fair, and Zillmere North Swimming Club. Melanie and Greg visit our youngest lad, Lliam and his two sons, Ethan and Connor at Auchenflower.
Former Test hooker, Royce Simmons is accompanied by former Australian teammate, Terry Lamb and paralympic gold medallist, Kurt Fearnley during a charity walk. “It’s the first time I’ve seen a bloke in a wheel chair, who was taller than the bloke walking,” Royce says, in reference to Lamb’s short stature.Ahead of Saturday’s Federal election, Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese details his Italian roots, during a visit to Sydney’s Marconi Club. I didn’t even know he had Italian heritage. (His father is Italian). I went to school (at Murwillumbah High) with Ashley Albanese, and I didn’t see him as someone of Italian heritage. I thought the surname was Anglo-Celtic.
THURSDAY, MAY 19
Sydney’s rugby league fraternity has rallied around former Test rugby league halfback, Steve ‘Turvey’ Mortimer, who has health issues. Former television commentator, Barry Ross sends me a photo of the likes of former internationals, Alan Thompson and John Gray and veteran journalist, Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield at lunch with ‘Turvey’.
On FoxSports’ Matt Johns show, there is hilarious footage of former internationals, ‘Fletch’ (Bryan Fletcher) and ‘Hindy’ (Nathan Hindmarsh) at Brisbane’s Port Office Hotel, during last weekend’s NRL Magic Round. Former Queensland players, Gary Larson and Chris Walker were there, among the patrons. I’m sure Matt would have mentioned another former Qld player, Mick McLean, if he knew the Port Office publican is Nick Gregorski, Mick’s nephew. I’m sure some of the goings on at the Port Office were tame, compared with the ‘entertainment’ at Brisbane’s Queen’s Arms, where Nick’s mum, Donna was publican.Ezra Mam makes his NRL debut for Brisbane Broncos after the withdrawal through injury of Adam Reynolds. I saw Sydney born Mam play for Souths Logan against Central Qld at Davies Park, earlier in the year, and he looked the goods.
FRIDAY, MAY 20
Marie and I meet our future next-door neighbour, Margaret Urquhart, as we pay a visit to Samford Grove. Margaret, a Sydney girl, has a son – Craig – who is president of Samford Stags Rugby League Club, which has former Bronco, Sam Thaiday as a registered player. Sam has lived at Samford for eight years.
Family get-together tonight at Howard Smith Wharves, on the Brisbane River. Our cabbie home is Indian, and, naturally, we talk cricket. He lives at Eight Mile Plains.
Former Great Britain Rugby League boss, Maurice Lindsay has died, aged 81. My first dealings with Maurice were during Great Britain’s 1992 Tour of Australia and New Zealand, and I met him many times over the years, both here and in England. On that 1992 tour, we had something of a falling out. When our paths crossed at Seagulls’ Stadium, Tweed Heads, ahead of the tour match against Gold Coast, he greeted me warmly, saying “It’s good to see the responsible press here.” A few days later I attended as sportsman’s lunch in Brisbane, where a former coach from England told me the British players would be paid a record fee – I think it was 5,000 pounds a man – if they won the third and deciding Test against Australia at Lang Park. When I rang Maurice for comment he was furious, and advised me against writing the story. I knew my informant was reliable so I went ahead and wrote it. Australia won the Test 16-10. Maurice glared at me when our eyes met in the British dressing room precinct after the game. The next time I saw him was at a reception ahead of the First Test between Great Britain and New Zealand at London’s Wembley Stadium, in October, 1993. He shook my hand, but quickly moved on.
SATURDAY, MAY 21
Former Jillaroo, Jo Barrett becomes the first female to deliver the Ross Livermore Memorial Lecture, which was initiated by the QRL History Committee in 2010, as the Harry Sunderland Address. The event is held at Queensland University of Technology campus at Kelvin Grove, where the QRL has been located since the February floods. It has caused much angst, with visitors, and even QRL Board members, struggling to find their way around the campus. The rain pelts down as guests arrive, and QRL staffer, Rebecca Trimble and off-sider, former Test referee, Eddie Ward, deserve special praise for the way they guide guests to the lecture hall. Jo’s uncle, John Barrett, is a Life Member of the QRL. Based at St George in South West Queensland, John couldn’t make it to the lecture, but sends a message, declaring his pride in his niece, who is a teacher at Brisbane’s Nudgee College, as well as being a rugby league television commentator. John says cattle and beef prices are through the roof, after a wonderful season out west.Noted broadcaster, John McCoy, a member of our History Committee, cannot attend because he is in Canberra, receiving his Order of Australia award from the Governor General.
Our eldest son, Damien and his wife, Emma attend the Burdekin Growers’ Race Day at Home Hill. Guest singer, Trent Bell was taught by Damien at Kirwan High in Townsville.A minute’s silence is observed for the legendary, Johnny ‘Chook’ Raper ahead of the St George Illawarra v New Zealand Warriors match at Kogarah Oval. It is a shame there is such a small crowd (7,147), and of course, there has to be one yahoo, who breaks the silence. The Dragons retire their number 8 for the day, in honour of Raper. The Hull v Wigan Super League match in Hull has an emotional build-up, with five players from the 1982 Challenge Cup final triumph, delivering the match ball. They are Lee Crooks, Keith Tindall, Tony Duke, Trevor Skerrett and Kevin Harkin. The late Dave Topliss captained Hull. After a 14-14 draw with Widnes at London’s Wembley Stadium on May 1, Hull won the replay at Leeds Elland Road Stadium on May 19. Crooks and Skerrett went on to play for Great Britain later that year against the touring Kangaroos, a series I covered for Brisbane’s Telegraph newspaper.
Learn of the passing of highly respected ABC journalist, Caroline Jones, the first woman to anchor the ‘Four Corners’ show. She was from an era when the general public trusted ‘their ABC’. Marie and I vote in Federal elections at Scout Hall.
SUNDAY, MAY 22
Labor’s Anthony Albanese is our new Prime Minister, deposing Liberal PM, Scott Morrison. Heaven help us. And, would you believe it, as I enter Brisbane’s iconic Breakfast Creek Hotel for lunch, the first person I see is ‘The world’s greatest treasurer’, Wayne Swan, who, I think, half recognises me, and almost stops, thinking I will pat him on the back for Labor’s victory. But when he sees my frown, he keeps on walking. A family lunch is the reason for my ‘Creek’ visit. The service is good, but the food is crap.
Toowoomba product, Justin Murphy coaches Catalans Dragons to French under-19s rugby league title. They finish the season undefeated. Former Australian rugby league player, Paul Gallen, one of the fittest men to have played, says the fatigue factor has gone from the game because there are so many stoppages. He is correct.
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