The Linville Pub
MONDAY, OCTOBER 3
The Tweed Valley Region of Far Northern New South Wales has produced many fine Indigenous rugby league players, none more famous than Lionel Morgan, the first Indigenous man to play for Australia (in 1960). Lionel was a speedster and a goal kicker. Brisbane Men of League Committee patron, Ron Atkins, an Indigenous man from the Tweed, says one of the fastest footballers ever was Merv Slockee, nicknamed ‘Midnight Express’. “Merv raced noted professional sprinter, Gareth Sands at the Tweed Heads Recreation Ground, and beat him,” Ron tells me. Ron also praises the speed of brothers, Colin and ‘Bully’ Appo. I played against Slockees and Appos – for Murwillumbah Brothers. Ron grew up with future Test halfback, Barry Muir (an Anglo-Celtic lad) and they would go skating on the metal, Rollerland Rink, opposite Godwin Park at Coolangatta. I played against Barry in 1971, when he had a farewell season as captain-coach of Tweed Seagulls, playing out of the Recreation Ground. Former Parramatta player, David Penna will coach Seagulls in 2023. Greater Manchester club, Leigh have been promoted to Super League and Ron recalls a former Leigh player – Stan Shoesmith – having a stint out here. “He loved wearing his blazer,” Ron says. NITV covers the 50th anniversary Koori Rugby League Carnival from Bomaderry, on the South Coast of New South Wales. One of the commentators is dual rugby international, Timana Tahu. “This is the best Rugby Competition in the world,” says the introduction to the coverage. Current NRL superstar, Latrell Mitchell is playing, along with former Dally M winner, Ben Barba. I watch some of the final in which NAB (Newcastle All Blacks) beat Walgett. I also watch some of the under-17s, a match in which there is an amazing double chip kick/regather. Greg Grainger, a former teammate of mine from Murwillumbah, comments that some of the NAB players are older than him. Greg, who lives at Taro in the Hunter Valley, has Indigenous blood.
Australian Rugby League coach, Mal Meninga, announces 13 debutants in our World Cup squad, with James Tedesco becoming the 70th man to captain the Kangaroos since 1908. Ian Walsh was our captain when I saw my first Test live – in 1966.
My wife, Marie and I have lunch at the Linville Hotel in the Brisbane Valley. Things are busy, but the barman is so efficient. After dining, we walk part of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, to a sawmill, along Blackbutt Creek.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4
Former Brisbane Souths’ hooker, David Bell is on the Board of ‘Small Steps 4 Hannah’, a charity set-up following the horrific domestic violence incident which left mother, Hannah Clarke (daughter of former Souths’ player, Lloyd Clarke) and her three children, dead. David retired from his accountancy practice, aged 58. He turned 60 last week. David’s father, Doug was a member of my 1998 Euro Tour, which had an emphasis on French rugby league history, but also included a Test between Great Britain and New Zealand, at Watford in England.
Samoa’s squad is given a civic reception in the South Yorkshire city of Doncaster, ahead of the Rugby League World Cup. Comedian, Adam Hills hosts the Warrington Wolves awards night. Warrington, in Cheshire, is his home town and he is a massive supporter of ‘The Wire’.
Marie and I host morning tea for the St Flannan’s ‘Playgroup ladies’, at our residence in Samford Grove over-55 village.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
Outgoing Wynnum-Manly CEO, Hanan Laban, asks me to MC the club’s awards night this Friday. I have other commitments and I need more notice than that. Hanan has moved to new NRL franchise, the Dolphins.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6
Marie and I feel a little ‘off’ after having Moderna Covid booster yesterday. It is so annoying to feel crook, especially as I have been so good.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
Fellow Samford Grove resident, John Ashton ran a Golden Fleece garage in in the UK, and then the Wellington Public House in Stockport. He says at one stage, during the petrol shortages of the 1970s, there was a roster system in place (for motorists) at the weekend. Another resident, John Jones, says he and his wife worked in the information centre at Binna Burra Lodge in the McPherson Ranges, and were friends with the pioneering Groom family. John and his wife once had a party on top of Mount Warning (Wollumbin). Not allowed now. A visitor to Samford Grove has a number plate which reads ‘Lair’. Well, it has to be a visitor. No-one in our estate would be so audacious. Marie and I watch Sigourney Weaver movie, Chappie. I think it is OK, but Marie doesn’t like it. We also watch the HBO documentary about the abuse of young gymnasts in the USA.
Newcastle Knights flyer, Dom Young stars in England’s 50-0 win over Fiji in a Rugby League World Cup warm-up game in Salford. English critics are excited about their team’s chances in the tournament.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8
There is a bloke wearing a Valleys’ rugby league polo at Samford market. Great to see a bit of Queensland tradition on display, instead of Port Adelaide or Sydney Swans. A chap walks by with his dalmatian, called Twiggy. Marie and I view ‘King Richard’, the story of the rise of the Williams’ sisters, Venus and Serena, under the watchful eye of their dad, Richard.
Greece and Bradford Northern played a 34-all draw in a World Cup warm-up game at Odsal Stadium, Bradford. The Kiwis thrash Leeds 74-0 at Headingley Stadium and perform a huge haka afterwards. The New Zealand team is based at York. France lose 48-12 in the Tas Batieri Trophy match against Tonga in Halifax, while Wales crash 22-38 to Lebanon at Swinton’s home ground at Sale. Batieri is one of the great advocates for the international aspect of rugby league, and played rugby league in France. In England’s National Conference final, Hunslet Parkside defeat West Hull at Featherstone.
It was this day, 45 years ago, Marie and I arrived in London on our first Northern Hemisphere trip. We explored Central London, and I particularly remember how beautiful St James Park looked, bathed in autumn colours.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
Dean ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie has a ‘Where are they now” story on the undefeated 1982 Kangaroo Rugby league touring party. I covered the tour for Brisbane’s Telegraph newspaper. I can report accurately on the whereabouts of Greg Conescu. He lives here in Samford, and can often be found on a Saturday afternoon having a punt (small bets) at the local pub. Members of that ’82 squad are upset that nothing was organised by League authorities to mark their historic achievement. They probably didn’t have enough Indigenous or islander players. Bulldogs’ fellow News Ltd journo, Paul Kent cops it on social media after he called Penrith players ‘rat mugs’, for the way they carried on the day after the Grand Final. ‘Kenty’ dismisses his critics as ‘idiots’.
ABC Television’s Landline program features a story on the return of Southern Right Whales off Albany in Western Australia. Not sure that is a Landline story. A Greenie story, maybe, but for the ‘Man on the Land’ – hello!
Marie and I to Little Tree Restaurant for live music, provided by a four piece jazz band. The sax player is the star. Tonight we watch average movie, ‘Off the Rails’ starring Judy Dench.
About Author
My grandfather, 11 years old in 1918 was put on the train at Pimpama and sent to Linville. His father a govt surveyor, was surveying soldier settlement blocks on Taromeo Station. Grandpa was given a German wagon and two horses, told to follow the railway line back to Brisbane and eventually to Pimpama, south of Beenleigh. There was no available men post the Great War to do it. Took him 8 days. At night he hobbled the horse’s front hooves but left the rear ones so they could kick dingoes. He slept under the wagon. They don’t make 11 year Olds like they used to. Since the internet, from extracts from the Moreton Bay Courier of 1918, I have been able to verify the account as stated.
John Ashton had the Golden Fleece Garage in Australia. He had the pub in the UK, before moving to Australia. Got that the wrong way round.