Steve Ricketts in Brothers’ colours
MONDAY, AUGUST 22
Former ABC Radio commentator, Gerry Collins says he was reportedly promised a gig on the 1990 Kangaroo Rugby League Tour of Britain and France, but at the last minute, was knocked back by his boss, Neville Oliver, a Tasmanian. Former Sydney Wests’ rugby league skipper, Warren Boland covered the French leg of the tour for the ABC. Not sure who did the English leg. They may have taken the BBC cover. Gerry played rugby union at Teachers’ College in Newcastle, and then at Cobar. He covered the 1999 rugby union World Cup in Europe. Gerry has been promoting his book – ‘A Fortuitous Foray into France’ – with the Brisbane launch taking place at the Prince Consort Hotel in Fortitude Valley. I couldn’t make it.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23
Snow falls on the Barrington Tops. The first time I heard of that mountainous region was 1975, when I lived in Taree, and chilly winds came down from ‘The Tops’, and swirled through the farm shack, I called home, in Edinburgh Drive. That was the coldest I had ever felt, in my then 22 years. I had moved south to Taree from Murwillumbah earlier that year, after signing a contract to play rugby league for Wingham Tigers. I moved to Brisbane at the end of the ’75 season and played for Brothers in 1976.
At Samford Pub, there is an Indigenous chap watching the races, and he is so loud, and his language, crass. A little girl in the public bar, warns her dad about HIS language. She is at the pool table, fooling around, when two tradies come in, wanting to have a game. They retreat when they see her. Kids should not be allowed in public bars – women yes, but not kids.
I have a new follower of this site – Harry Deemal, who represented North Queensland in rugby league. He is chasing videos of the 1984 Winfield State League, during which he represented the (NQ) Marlins.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24
My wife, Marie’s sister, Carolyn Soward is staying with us at Samford Grove, and we take her on a drive to nearby Cedar Creek. Carolyn says her eldest daughter, Kellie Kelly, once shared London digs with one of the creators of the Blue’s Clues children show, (I’ve never heard of it) in London, when she was on a working holiday. Kellie now lives in Ireland. My brother, Jeffrey celebrates his birthday, with his wife, Ann, at an Italian restaurant at Palm Beach, on the Gold Coast. They live in Tweed Heads.
One of our neighbours, Gary Gardner, is originally from Sydney and follows the North Sydney Bears. He had a relative who played for Newcastle Souths, a club I associate with former Great Britain prop, Terry Clawson, who was captain-coach in the 1970s. Foundation Newcastle Knight, Tony Townsend, a police inspector, has died, aged 63. Townsend, a Dungog junior, played hooker for Newcastle in the Knights’ 26-0 win over Combined Brisbane, in the 1988 National Panasonic Cup knock-out competition. His opposite number that day was Valleys’ star, Bill Holmes, a product of the Pittsworth club on the Darling Downs. I covered the match for ‘The Courier-Mail’.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25
Chris Quick, the son of former junior rugby league coach, Alf Quick, conducts a termite inspection at our Samford Grove residence. Alf coached at Norths St Josephs, Virginia, where our two sons, Damien and Lliam played. Chris says Alf also coached at Samford. Damien remembers Chris as “a gentle kid with a good heart”. Samford Medico, Dr David O’Regan is, or has been, medical officer for Redcliffe Dolphins Rugby League side.
Parramatta prop, Junior Paulo is simply sensational in the opening 25 minutes of the Eels’ 53-6 thrashing of the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, with Parramatta leading 24-0 after 25 minutes. Tall second rower, Shaun Lane also impresses, as the Eels score nine tries to one. Broncos’ inter-change forward, Kobe Hetherington is an old school tackler, and pulls off a sensational front-on effort, in the 33rd minute. It stands out because there are so many feeble efforts from the home side. After the game, Paulo races up into the grandstand, to see a disabled fan.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26
Fellow Samford Grove resident, John Jones and I team-up for pool at Samford Grove ‘Happy Hour’, and lose all three games. I love the library in the Samford Grove Homestead, and browse through a few books this week, including the ‘bio’ of noted journalist, Tim Bowden. One of the library’s book organisers, Betty Belling is originally from Gunnedah in NSW, and came to Queensland via a stint in the Blue Mountains.
Sydney Roosters’ forward, Victor Radley has a ‘fit’, after a sickening head knock in the Chooks’ 18-14 win over the Storm in Melbourne. It looks frightening. Learn of the passing of former NQ centre, John Preece, who had been living at Hervey Bay.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
There are three flags for Australia, and one for New Zealand, when our Wallaroos play the Black Ferns in a women’s rugby Test in Adelaide. The Olympic Games Organising Committee will get a shock when Australia asks for three flag poles, whenever we win a medal. Former Melbourne Storm winger, Marika Koroibete scores a great try, and makes a sensational try saving tackle in the Wallabies’ win over South Africa. Argentina beat the All Blacks, and the Argentinians hail former Kiwi rugby league star, David Kidwell, who recently joined their coaching staff.
Learn of the passing of Margaret Rose (Peggy) Lindwall, whose late husband, Ray, was one of Australia’s greatest ever fast bowlers, and also a classy rugby league fullback – for St George in Sydney. I enjoyed time at the Lindwall residence in 1992, when I interviewed Ray, ahead of the Broncos’ historic grand final appearance – against St George
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28
ABC Radio’s Ian ‘Macca’ McNamara recalls cleaning blackboards at school, something I had to do on a regular basis, at St Carthage’s in Lismore; Mt St Pat’s, Murwillumbah, and even Murwillumbah High. Former Queensland and Australian cricketer, Geoff ‘Mary’ Dymock phones the show. Geoff, nicknamed ‘Mary’, because he comes from Maryborough, has had two knee replacements. I interviewed Geoff quite a few times, and always found him a gentleman. He should have played more than 21 Tests, but I think Queenslanders did it tough at the national selection table, back in those days.
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