Samford Open Air Museum
MONDAY, AUGUST 29
Legendary Queensland Rugby League administrator, Harry Sunderland is to be inducted into the Queensland Sports Hall of Fame, an honour long overdue. The QRL History Committee, of which I am chairman, has played a role in the decision to pay due respects to Sunderland.
My great mate, Doug Kaden, a former Marist Brothers (Lismore) rugby league player, turns 70. Lismore’s Rous Hotel licensee had planned a special function for Doug’s big day, but the pub had to cancel because of hard times, brought about by the tragic floods. There is no draft beer, just the sale of cans, three or four days a week. There are, or were, 10 pubs on the Wilson River flood plain in Lismore, and they all have different stories. The old Canberra Hotel (now the Sherwood) is open; The Civic and Commercial are partly open. The Richmond was devastated – no beer there. Even pubs on the hills weren’t safe. The Channon pub was damaged because of run-off from the Rocky Creek Dam. Doug’s late parents, ‘DOK’ and Clarice, lived most of their married life in Casino Street, South Lismore. The flood waters came up to the window sills of their old house.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30
FoxSports telecast former Queensland State of Origin star, Paul Green’s public memorial service at Kougari Oval, after a private, family service. I provided a photo for the ‘slide show’, at the request of Paul’s former Queensland and Cronulla teammate, Chris McKenna. The photo featured Paul with fellow Brisbane Easts’ ‘graduates’ at Cronulla – Andrew Neave and Adam Maher; coach, John Lang and CEO, Shane Richardson. I am reminded that Paul, who coached the Cowboys to their inaugural NRL title in 2015, was Queensland under-19 skipper in 1991, with the young Maroons touring the Pacific, with Geoff Naylor coach and Graham Kerr manager. The squad included another future Origin star, Jamie Goddard. Green’s good mate, Andrew Gee is one of the pall bearers at the funeral.
My wife, Marie and I have lunch at Eaton’s Hill Hotel, where a couple of wakes are taking place, one for Keith Campbell – not the former Australian Rugby League forward. My brother, Stewart, works at Dan Murphy’s, Sunnybank, and recently served former World Boxing champ, Jeff Horn, who told Stew he doesn’t have the desire any more – to box. Horn likes quality, red wine.
Former Newtown Jets’ forward, Chris Dawson is found guilty of murdering his wife. I saw Dawson play for Newtown against South Sydney, at Redfern Oval in 1973.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31
Hair dresser, Liza Kirk loves the Tweed Valley, especially Uki. She recalls family holidays in the region, staying at a motel on the river at Murwillumbah, with the cane fires burning nearby. Liza has the contract to cut and style hair at Samford Grove. Clive Duffy, from Tyalgum in the Tweed region, has a 1933 Queensland jersey, left to him by his father, Phillip Vivian Duffy, who played for Brisbane Brothers in the 1930s, and represented Brisbane. He won a grand final with Brothers in 1935. Clive wants to donate the jersey to the QRL. He’s not sure how his Dad got the jersey.
I am reliably informed that a group of Indigenous kids got into a fight outside the Roma Courthouse, in south west Queensland, mid-way through their appearance on a variety of charges. You can imagine the frustration of the legal aid people.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Samford Outdoor Museum is an absolute delight, and a ‘must-see’ on any visit to the village. A group from Samford Grove, including Marie and I, are shown through the museum grounds by Geoff Harris, President of Samford District Historical Society. Morning tea is included in our $5 a head, group outlay, with scones made by museum member, Bev Campbell, a resident of Samford Grove. Marie and I walk back to Samford Grove with Jill Reeves, a Cockney, who lived in Essex, and came to Australia when she was 12.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Former representative referee and noted media man, Bernie Pramberg, alerts me to the passing of rugby league legend, Barry ‘Garbo’ Muir, at the age of 84. Members of the courageous 1975 Queensland side, which Barry coached, have been regular visitors to the Muir household in recent months. Channel 7 News has a brief mention of the death of “loveable larrikin”, Muir. He deserved more, but, in this day and age, when anything more than 10 years ago is regarded as ancient history, we should be grateful for small mercies. Mind you, if he was a former Aussie rules player from Victoria, he probably would have got more air time. I write ‘Vale Barry Muir’ stories for this website, and the QRL.
Sydney Roosters have a great win – against bitter rivals, Souths – at the opening of the new Allianz Stadium, the old Sydney Football Stadium, and before that, the Sydney Sports Ground. Men of League stalwart, Barry Ross is a guest of ARLC boss, Peter V’landys at the official function. V’landys mentions the passing of Muir, and the excellent work performed for the Foundation by Ross, in particular what he has been doing for another former Test halfback, Steve ‘Turvey’ Mortimer, who has dementia.
Murwillumbah Bowls Club has burnt down, after the third fire in five years at the derelict premises. So sad. Who would have thought Murwillumbah’s prime bowls club would ever shut, given the large membership it once boasted. I went to the club many times, on a quiet Saturday night in Murwillumbah, when I was a young journalist at the Tweed Daily News, and unable to afford a night out on the Gold Coast. I remember covering a Northern Rivers’ Cane Growers’ meeting at the club.
I was there one night with Mick O’Neill, from the South Murwillumbah Rugby League Club, when we met two lasses, who happened to live in a house next door. We didn’t have far to walk them home.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Former Wests Panthers rugby league coach, Don Oxenham phones, re. passing of Barry Muir, and reminds me he was five eighth outside ‘Garbo’ in Wests’ Team of The 1960s. ‘The Courier-Mail’ has a tribute to Barry, as you would expect, but I believe a lot more space should have been devoted to his career and what he meant to Queensland. Former Origin Greats (FOGS) boss Gene Miles has a tribute to Barry on the organisation’s website. Laurie Parker from Charleville has a nice tribute to Barry on the ‘Letters Page’. Barry had a running battle with referees during his playing career. In one Brisbane club match he was being heavily penalised by referee, Henry Albert, for incorrect scrum feeds. So Barry threw the ball in the opposition’s second row. Henry still penalised him. “I said, put it in the middle,” Henry replied to Muir, as he protested. I watch a little of Wests v University of Queensland rugby union match, and I reckon the referee re-set one scrum 12 times.
The New Zealand Warriors 2002 Grand Final side is honoured at Old Boys’ Day at the Warriors’ home game in Auckland, against Gold Coast Titans. I covered the 2002 Grand Final for ‘The Courier-Mail’. Australian, Kevin Campion has made it to the Old Boys’ day. Villiami Vailea scores an amazing 60 metre try after producing a giant sidestep to get around Titans’ halfback, Tanah Boyd. Boyd has the last laugh, kicking five goals from five shots in difficult conditions, as well as kicking the match winning field goal in the Titans’ 27-26 victory. St George Illawarra beat the Broncos 22-12 in Wollongong to end Brisbane’s chances of making the top eight. St George’s former Broncos’ forward, Josh McGuire has his parents in the grandstand. McGuire is off to England to play for Warrington.
Serena Williams bows out of the US Open at the hands of Australian, Ajla Tomljanovic who graciously concedes centre stage to the American tennis legend.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Catalan Dragons field a youthful side against Wigan, and, as expected, get a hiding – 48-4. A number of the youngsters are from French Elite 1 club, Steve Esteve, which is coached by Queenslander, Justin Murphy. Fullback, Romain Franco plays well. One of the young forwards is 206cm. It is great to see him playing league. With that height, he must have been under enormous pressure to play union. Wests Tigers are thrashed 56-10 by Canberra at Leichhardt Oval, after trailing 42-0 at halftime. “This is beyond pathetic,” says Channel 9 commentator, Andrew Johns.
Father’s Day BBQ at J C Slaughter Falls Park at the base of Mt Cooth-tha. A Nepalese group take over one area of the park – egg and spoon race, a P. A. system – the lot – they are well organised. An Anglo Celtic dad, wearing a Villanova College cap, kicks a Steeden (rugby league) football with his son, while a Sherrin (Australian rules) is the preferred footy for another white, family group. Marie and I walk the Hoop Pine Circuit.
Orara Valley Axeman, coached by former Great Britain prop, Sam Burgess, are beaten 36-8 by South Grafton Rebels in the Group 2 (New South Waless) Grand Final.
Tomorrow is ‘Mad Monday’ for eight NRL clubs. Hopefully there wont be any incidents, and, to be fair, things are a lot more subdued than a few years back. Former Newcastle star, Matt Johns says clubs would plan their Mad Mondays weeks in advance.
About Author
