Heavily laden trailer comes to grief on Camp Mountain Road
MONDAY, JUNE 13
Wally Young recalls having to sell hot cans of beer at a State of Origin rugby league match at Lang Park, the cold cans had been sold so quickly. Wally worked in various bars at the stadium, landing a start there from licenced club manager, Dick Breen, a bloke he knew from his days working in the furniture sales business. Former Queensland winger, Peter Lobegeiger worked part time in the can bars, as did Aussie rules star, turned league player, Barry Spring. Wally is a resident of Samford Grove Over-55 Village, where my wife, Marie and I moved to live, last week. We are slowly getting to know the other residents. Lorraine Cameron, for instance. Her husband was in the RAAF, and was based in Malaysia at one stage.
Craig Gilleece, a Hendra resident, has contacted the QRL History Committee (of which I am chairman), with the offer of a touch judge flag from big games in 1959 and ’60. The flag belonged to Bill Gayler, a former top referee from Ipswich, who played for the Tivoli club in his young days.
A trailer carrying scaffolding, for on-going building work at Samford Grove, collapses on Camp Mountain Road, under the weight of its load. How embarrassing.
TUESDAY, JUNE 14
Former (England) ‘Daily Mirror’ rugby league writer, Martin Richards turns 76. His daughter, Fiona gives him tickets to Macbeth at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Controversial former NRL players, Blake Ferguson and Joey Leilua, are on opposing sides in the English Championship, Ferguson for Leigh and Leilua for Featherstone. Sydney Morning Herald journalist, Andrew Webster has a chat to me about the ‘Unauthorised Biography’ of Wayne Bennett, a book he is writing. Wayne is aware of the impending book. The Rugby League community in England mourns the passing of former Test forward, Bill Ashurst, who played for Wigan, Wakefield and Runcorn in England, and Penrith in Australia. I had the honour of playing against Ashurst – in an Amco Cup match at Lang Park in 1976. I played for Brothers and we beat Ashurst’s Penrith side, which also included another top English player, Mick Stephenson. I saw Ashurst play for Wigan against Widnes at Naughton Park, Widnes, during the 1977-78 English season. Unfortunately, he was carried from the field on a stretcher, after being hit high by Widnes’ Welsh prop, Jim Mills. Mills was sent from the field. Ashurst was one of the most skilful forwards ever to represent Great Britain, although he played only three Tests, because his time in Australia ruled him out of contention, under the rules of the day. He was an accomplished goal kicker; could put supports into gaps and possessed a lovely short kicking game. Ashurst was only in Australia a few weeks ago, for a charity walk, undertaken by former Test hooker, Royce Simmons. Born at Ince-in-Makerfield, in Greater Manchester, he came through the ranks of the Ince Amateur club. He was 74 at the time of his death.
Marie has her first swim at the indoor heated pool at Samford Grove. Afterwards, we attend orientation session with next door neighbour, Margaret Urquhart (originally from Sydney) and former Rockhampton residents, Ted and Ann Gale. Ted, a fitter and turner, had his own hardware supply business, after working as a rep. for Colgate-Palmolive, when he was just 20. He says Gale’s pies are famous in Rockhampton.
Marie and I walk Samford’s impressive Anzac Avenue of Honour. Former Valleys’ centre, Steve Hegarty, a local resident, drives by. Steve’s son, Bryce played under-20s for the Broncos, before switching to rugby union. He is currently playing in the UK.
Marie and watch movie ‘Reminiscence’ – ordinary, despite having Hugh Jackman in the lead role.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15
Former Australia and Queensland Rugby League teammates, Wally Lewis and Gene Miles; QRL president, Bruce Hatcher and former Brisbane Brothers’ winger, George Doniger are at my table at Carbine Club State of Origin lunch at Suncorp Stadium. George, a noted television commentator in the 1970s and ’80s, wins a raffle prize – two tickets to Aston Villa v Leeds United match at Suncorp. News Ltd’s Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock interviews Wally and another former Queensland skipper, Darren Lockyer, while Ben Ikin – Broncos Head of Football – interviews two fellow Origin legends, Paul Vautin and Trevor Gillmeister. Ikin played in the 1995 Queensland side coached by Vautin, and captained by Gillmeister. Channel 9’s Peter Psaltis interviews Dolphins’ CEO, Terry Reader. ‘Fatty’ recalls Brett Horsnell being on standby for Gillmeister ahead of Origin III in 1995, when ‘Gilly’ was battling illness.
THURSDAY, JUNE 16
Lunch at Samford pub with friends, Ray and Val Ebert from Redcliffe. Ray and Val have done an 80 day tour of Western Australia.
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
Dual International, Michael O’Connor and former Broncos, Carl Webb and Petero Civoniceva are my interview subjects at Men of League Foundation, Sunshine Coast Committee lunch at Maroochydore RSL. Wayne Bennett was meant to be chief guest speaker, but withdrew through illness. Carl, who is battling motor neuron disease, tells Michael he went out with his niece, many moons ago. I chat to former Valleys’ centre, Peter Fisher, a product of Forbes Marist Brothers, in Western New South Wales. He also played for Gold Coast Vikings, during his time in Queensland. Keith ‘Trapper’ Woodman (ex Goulburn) traps me, for a chat. Noted Sydney league writer, Gary Lester wrote a book about him. It seems ‘Trapper’ (a former rabbit trapper) is a Goulburn icon. Andrew Adcock, originally from Charleville, does the auction. He knew Jeff Tuite, who I worked out with at Lane’s Gym, Chermside, back in the late 1970s, early 1980s. Andrew says ‘Tuitey’ loved to introduce himself as “Jeffrey Tuite from Charleville’.
SATURDAY, JUNE 18
Former Test hooker, Greg Conescu is punting at Samford Pub. He introduces me to local character, Marty Finn (brother of Micky). So many crows around the shopping centre. The reason? An overflowing skip. A dark bloke walks down Main Street, bouncing a basketball, wearing headphones, and looking angry. Too many people drive far too fast up Main Street, where the speed limit is 50kmh. Probably should be 40.
Fans farewell the Warriors at Dolphin Oval. The Warriors are returning to New Zealand, after being domiciled in Australia because of Covid. Australian, Kevin Campion, who enjoyed a successful stint with the club, is there in Warriors’ gear. Halfback, Ronald Volkman, a former rugby union player from Sydney’s Waverly College, makes his NRL debut for the Warriors, from the bench, in the 40-6 loss to Penrith.
Denise Quinlan, who lives in Villa 96 at Samford Grove, says her parents wouldn’t let her watch the controversial television series, Number 96, which ‘graced’ our television screens in the early 1970s. Denise lived at Ferny Grove for 44 years.
SUNDAY, JUNE 19
A Gilgandra woman (ex-Newcastle) phones ‘Macca’ (Ian McNamara) on ABC to promote Aussie rules, in particular her side, Balladoran. It appears to me she wants to ‘stick it up’ Macca, who is a rugby league man. In England, the national rugby league side beats a ‘Combined Nations’ selection 18-4, while England’s women defeat France 36-10, with both matches played in Warrington, Cheshire. John Bateman, originally from Bradford, is player of the match for the men, and Amy Hardcastle (Halifax born) wins the award in the women’s game. British league legend, Ellery Hanley, coached Combined Nations. Matt Parcell, the grandson of former Australian Test forward, Gary Parcell, played for Combined Nations. Gary Parcell (from Ipswich) played four Tests against Great Britain in the period 1959-62.
Marie and I enjoy dinner, drinks and music at Little Tree Restaurant, Samford, dining on beef croquets (Marie) and spicey mushrooms (Moi). The stout is lovely. A couple near us have three children (two boys), who are so well behaved. The family plays UNO.
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