Young Bill Paten
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
‘Young’ Bill Paten, the son of Queensland Rugby League legend, Bill Paten Snr., has died, in his 90s. He has been infirm for the last couple of years, says his good mate, Bill Longford from Bracken Ridge, who often took ‘Young Bill’ to Men of League Foundation functions. I interviewed Bill – at Wynnum Leagues Club – for the MOL magazine, a few years back, and he was sharp as a tack. I also wrote his dad’s obituary for ‘The Courier-Mail’ – back in 1991. ‘Old’ Bill played 15 times for Queensland and three Tests for Australia, from 1919 into the 1920s. At one stage, he played for the romantically named, Starlights club in Ipswich.
The Lord Peter Smith Stand, named after a local alderman, is unveiled at Leigh Sports Village, the home ground of Leigh Leopards, a club which plays in the English Rugby League second tier competition (The Championship). I covered the 1982 Kangaroo tour match against Leigh, at the club’s old Hilton Park ground. The Welsh Under-17 rugby league side has beaten England’s Community Lions (young amateurs) in an encouraging result for the 13-man game in the principality. There is a Lewis Jones in the Welsh side. THE Lewis Jones played 15 Tests for Great Britain in the 1950s, after switching from rugby union. He finished his playing career with Wentworthville in Sydney.
Geelong Cats Australian rules side celebrate ‘Mad Monday’ dressed as old men. I think that shows some imagination and I don’t think any old people would take offence.
My wife, Marie and I have had issues with the plumbing in the ensuite of our new villa in Samford Grove Over-55 village. When ‘Dean’, and a plumber, from Ausmar Homes, has a look at the problem – the water won’t drain from the sink – he is adamant a plumber was here last week. When I tell him that is not the case, and try to explain our problem in a little more detail, he ignores me completely, and continues talking to today’s plumber. I nearly say something I will regret.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
Marie and I join our youngest son, Lliam and his boys, Ethan and Connor on their (hired) houseboat, Kalinda, on the Tweed River. After breakfast at Noodle Box, Coolangatta (where there are a lot of ‘westies from Sydney. Don’t ask me how I know they are westies from Sydney, I just do) we leave our car at Boyd’s Bay Marina, and hitch a ride on a tender, skippered by Barry, who skilfully avoids a disaster, when a hire boat heads straight for us, unaware we are even there. Lliam, Ethan and Connor fish from the house boat and a tinnie, as we moor off Ukerebagh Island.
India resort to a ‘Mankad’ to win a women’s T20 international at Lords.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
There are great views of Mt Warning (Wollumbin) as Barry ferries us back to base. We meet company owner, Robert Berger, who lives at Natural Bridge, in Queensland’s Numinbah Valley. He has written to Tweed Shire Council about the number of backpackers who free camp on the streets around the Marina, and leave calling cards, if you get my drift.
Back in Brisbane, Marie and I attend funeral of friend, Margaret Joan Whight, who died on September 13, aged 76. The service is beautiful, and it is so sad seeing the grandkids so sad. They blow bubbles as they leave the chapel, but one girl is too distressed to join-in. The wake is held at Aspley Hornets Australian Rules Club, where I’m told former Norths’ rugby league star, Tony Trent is a regular. (It always comes back to rugby league). I enjoy a schooner of Samford Session Ale. Margaret met her husband, Kevin when he offered to give her a ride in his Jaguar.
Cronulla glamour boy, Nicho Hynes wins the Men’s Dally M Medal as NRL Player of the Year, and Raecene McGregor (Sydney Roosters) is the Women’s best. I believe the men and women should have their own separate nights. There is too much to cram in, with both competitions acknowledged.
Former Channel 7 reporter, Pat Molihan, hosts the naming of the Lebanese side for the Rugby League World Cup. Pat’s great mate, Michael Cheika, will coach the ‘Cedars’. Australian coach, Mal Meninga – speaking on SEN Radio – says State of Origin players “must be born in Australia”. I don’t necessarily agree with that, because you might be as Aussie as Uluru, but be born in London during your parents big trip to the UK. Bob Fulton was born in Warrington, England, but was one our proudest New South Welshmen. But I agree with Mal, that the Origin concept should not be bastardised, to allow any Tom, Dick or ‘Junior’ to play for the Blues or Maroons.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Another funeral, sadly, this one for former Samford Grove resident, Wally Young at Sacred Heart Church, Samford. There is a huge turnout for Wally who had so many friends from his rugby league and lawn bowls days, as well as his time working behind the bar at League headquarters, Lang Park. There is a Wests Panthers’ jersey at the altar. Singing at the service, in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, is provided by a male from a local choir. He is excellent. Afterwards, I chat to the likes of rugby league identities, Aldwyn Tong, Bob Green, Keith Blake, Vance Rennie and Graham Adams. The wake is held in function room at Samford Grove, and the catering is magnificent, which is fitting, given that Wally’s widow, Carol, is the doyen of ‘home cooking’ at ‘the Grove’.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Whenever I go to the Samford Grove gym – which, admittedly, is not that often – the television is on SBS Food Channel. Today I discover the reason. Fellow gym junkie, Allan Svensen loves food shows, and is a great fan of Italian cooking. But the only overseas trip he has made is to Norfolk Island. Allan worked for Telstra at Samford, and moved here to live, from Keperra. At Happy Hour, former North Sydney resident, Gary Gardner tells me he once snuck into the Sydney Sports Ground to see a mid-week play-off match between Newtown and the Roosters.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1
Former Redcliffe and Valleys’ rugby league halfback, Colin Part is in Samford to lunch with his son. Former Test hooker, Greg ‘Turtle’ Conescu emerges from the Samford Pub as Col and I chat outside. Former Test forward, Sam Thaiday is having lunch at the nearby organic cafe. It all happens in Samford. Colin left Valleys because former Test halfback, Ross Strudwick was in his way. Playing for Redcliffe in the 1981 Brisbane Grand Final, Part was injured with 16 minutes remaining, courtesy of a bruising tackle from Souths’ forward, Chris Phelan. Part’s replacement was former Test halfback, Greg Oliphant, who gave away a second row scrum feed penalty in the dying minutes, which gave Souths’ possession. Souths’ winger, Mick Reardon scored the match winner, as the fulltime hooter sounded. Part is not blaming ‘Ollie’ – he just wonders what might have been. In 1983, Redcliffe again made the Grand Final, only to be beaten by Easts. “‘Lindy’ (veteran halfback, Wayne Lindenberg) was the difference,” Part says. Colin also recalled a visit to Ipswich, after Redcliffe coach, John Barber had called Ipswich the arsehole of the earth. “We had to hole up in the dressing sheds for an hour after the game, waiting for angry Ipswich supporters to leave,” Part said. Colin believes the new Dolphins’ franchise has done the right thing by buying experienced forwards for their first season in the NRL. “They need to be solid,” he said.
Dolphins’ Media man, Trad McLean’s niece is a dancer at Moulin Rouge, Paris. She is a former Palm Beach- Currumbin student. Trad went to Tweed River High.
Souths’ Magpies stalwart, Jim McClelland officially stands downs as CEO of the West End club. They will miss him, but I sense he will always be on hand to help out. News also broke this week of the passing of a former Souths’ player, Wayne Linsell.
There is a ‘Forever Croatia’ banner at the Australia Cup soccer final in Sydney where there are disgraceful crowd scenes.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2
Ian ‘Macca’ McNamara fields a call from Michael in Islamabad, Pakistan. ‘Macca’ tries to get information about life in general in Islamabad, but all Michael wants to do is rabbit on about Australian rules (he keeps calling it AFL. There is no-one in Pakistan who plays AFL, or NRL, for that matter). But this bloke reckons the locals are taking to the 18-man game like ducks to water. I’ve always said Aussie rules people are like Mormon missionaries in trying to spread the gospel of their sport, and this bloke is a classic example. It is NRL Grand Final day in Sydney, but I doubt if Michael would be interested. On Channel 9’s coverage of the NRL, the cameras pan to Church Street, Parramatta. I don’t know where all those white people have come from. The last time I was in Parramatta, about the only Anglo-Celtic people I saw were the police and firies.
GRAND FINAL DAY
Penrith thrash Brisbane Norths 44-10 in the State Championship final. Ch 9 commentator, Phil ‘Gus’ Gould, who has strong ties to Penrith, loves the fact they win so convincingly against Queensland’s best second tier side. Penrith coach, Peter Wallace, a former Penrith and Broncos’ halfback, is interviewed by his former Broncos’ teammate, Darren Lockyer. It is fascinating to see the places of origin of the players in the NRLW Grand Final between Newcastle and Parramatta – Orange, Gloucester, Nelson’s Bay, Kurri Kurri (NSW); Tully, Yeppoon (Qld); Rockingham (WA) and South Adelaide are a few examples. No-one from Islamabad. Newcastle win 32-12. Our daughter, Melanie Marrioto and her husband, Greg watch the action in ‘The Doghouse Bar’ on Koh Samui. Former Canberra star, Mark McLinden, wearing football boots, runs onto the field in a climate change protest. McLinden lives at Mullumbimby these days, which explains things. I wonder how he got to Sydney.
The NRL Grand Final is a non-event, with Penrith ahead 18-0 v Parramatta at halftime, and winning 28-12. (It was 28-0 after 59 minutes).
In England, Greater Manchester club, Leigh win promotion to the Super League by accounting for West Yorkshire outfit, Batley. I admire Batley, but, I can’t ever see them in Super League, because they lack the necessary corporate support.
Peter Badel has a story in News Limited press about Parramatta legend, Ray Price’s battle with dementia. I had the privilege of covering Price’s last Test series – against Great Britain, in Australia, in 1984.
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G’day Steve
Nice read re Colin Part. Agree , it’s true that C Lindenburg had a great game in the ‘83 GF but Part, in my opinion, had an equally good game, in fact a blinder.
It’s also true that T Trent is a regular at Aspley Hornets albeit much less frequent these days as his health hasn’t been great over the last couple of years.