Marie Ricketts at Townsville’s Little Mountain Brewery
MONDAY, OCTOBER 17
Australia’s World Cup Rugby League team is reportedly upset at the state of their training field in Manchester, with shot putt damage one of the complaints. The worst training field I saw, (provided for a top level team), was in France in 1989, when Queensland Residents trained at a small amateur club outside Toulouse. FoxSports’ Commentator, Andrew Voss is in raptures about Joseph Manu’s ability, as the Kiwi ace scores a try in New Zealand’s 34-12 win over Lebanon in Warrington. ‘Vossy’ mentions Boston Buccaneers rugby league club. Can’t recall why. Lebanon five eighth, Adam Douehi is sent off for foul and abusive language, aimed at Australian referee, Grant Atkin. In Doncaster, France defeat Greece 34-12. It’s amazing that Greece is playing at the tournament, given rugby league had been outlawed in the country, owing to a dispute over who should govern the game in the country. Try to make sense of that. Believe it not, not all the Greek players are not from Australia, at least, not according to the tournament guide. There are blokes from Greek clubs such as Rhodes Knights, Attica Rhinos and Aris Eagles. The coach – Steve Georgallis – is Australian. There were four millions viewers of the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup opener between England and Samoa in Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Former Queensland State of Origin back, Corey Norman has signed with French Elite One outfit, Lezignan, a club another Maroons’ rep., Chris Beattie remembers fondly, from his time in France. Wasps Rugby Union Club, based at Watford, has gone into receivership.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18
Former Queensland lock, Greg Quinn is my interview subject for Men of League Foundation magazine. Greg and I chat over coffee at Spoke Cafe in Samford. Greg tells me a story of a former club teammate, a policeman, who was so bored on the beat one night, he drove a patrol car the entire length of the Gold Coast with the siren on. Greg’s clubs were Ipswich Brothers, Brisbane Brothers and Ipswich Jets. Perhaps you can guess who it was.
Prominent media man, Steve Crawley pays tribute to fellow journalist, Peter Kogoy, who died recently. Steve’s association with Peter went back as far as 1976, in Coffs Harbour.
It is ridiculous the noise made by some trucks entering Samford, village from Brisbane, as they approach the Main Street roundabout. There should be a sign specifying that engine brakes are prohibited.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19
Sydney Telegraph’s Dean ‘Bulldog’ Richie has a story about the danger presented to players by the small grounds in the UK, with the biggest fear being that an athletic winger will finish up crashing head first into a brick wall, trying to score a try in the corner. Regular readers of my BLOG will know that I have raised this issue many times. Former Kiwi World Cup winner, Nathan Fien has been added to the coaching staff at the Dolphins.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20
Wake to the news Redcliffe rugby league player, Liam Hampson has died in a Barcelona Night Club. He was travelling around Europe with good mates, AJ Brimson, Jordan Riki and Jesse Arthars. Hampson apparently fell to his death after becoming lost in a private section of the Night Club. I played against former New South Wales Country prop, Geoff Hampson in the early 1970s. Geoff played for Mullumbimby and I played for Murwillumbah Brothers. Not sure whether Liam is related.
At Brisbane Airport, I run into Norths’ rugby league stalwart, Peter Fraser, who is going to Melbourne for the Cox Plate. Peter followed the Kangaroos to Britain and France as part of supporters’ tours in 1986, 1990 and ’94. Those were the days. I led supporters tours in 1990 and ’94, with mainly Brisbane Souths and Easts people on board. There is an urgent page over the Airport PA for Adrian Skinner, to please board for the Cooma service. The Indian cricketers pass through, on their way to Melbourne. There is also a page for a chap, surname Bindon, from Moranbah. My godmother was Pat Beddoes (nee Bindon), from Lismore. She married Ray Sorenson after the death of her first husband, Merv. Marie and I fly to Townsville, and check into Allure Hotel. We enjoy drinks at Little Mountain Brewery, where a running group arrives. Marie and I also drop into the recently opened Empire Hotel, on our way to the Commonwealth for dinner – onion bhaji, calamari and sweet potato chips. Excellent. A Maori looking chap asks Marie for a chip. At least he didn’t say: ‘Yis, lend me $5’. (That’s an ‘in joke’, for Mark Oberhardt’s benefit). At the Empire, Marie and I chat to former Roosters’ forward, Danny Shepherd’s son, Tim and his lady. The Empire normally has Reschs on tap, but not tonight. Radio commentator, David Morrow would say it is a case of casting pearls before swine, providing North Queenslanders with Reschs. Don’t forget – ‘Reschs refreshes’. At the Commonwealth, an English chap asked for a Sapporo Black. Evidently the Empire was supposed to open in February, but there were dramas with the Licensing Commission, evidently. Someone purporting to be from a couple of pubs in south east Queensland, asks permission to use photos from this site, on the wall of their licensed premises.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21
Australian players observe a minute’s silence for Liam Hampson, ahead of their match against Scotland in Coventry. The Australians win 84-0, a result which would have had Scots’ rugby union people chuckling. I was keen for the match to be played in Scotland, perhaps in Hawick, where a number of rugby league players have come from. But I’m glad now it was played in England, to spare the Scots’ players the rancour of their fans.
Sport at East Ayr State School is called off because of the water logged state of the fields. We know this, because our eldest son, Damien is deputy principal, and we have travelled north primarily to visit him; his wife, Emma and their daughters, Parker and Evan. A wild storm had hit Ayr at 11 a.m.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22
Former North Queensland Cowboys’ coach, Grant Bell hosts morning sports show on local ABC Radio, and plays Elvis Presley hit, Viva Las Vegas. Good man. Damien looks at the song list of Albert Hammond, after I mention how much I like the American singer. Damien is impressed, and discovers that Albert’s son, Albert Jnr., is part of one of his favourite bands, The Strokes. Marie and I have morning tea at Little Leaves, in the village of Brandon, with Damien and co. See a bloke wearing a Gladstone Wallabies rugby league polo. See, not all Wallabies are unionists.
Learn of the passing of Harry White, 78. He rode ‘Think Big’ to back-to-back Melbourne Cup wins in 1974-75. I attended the 1974 Cup during a road trip from Murwillumbah, which started with my Brothers’ teammate, Adrian ‘Champs’ Chapman, as navigator, but ‘Champs’ decided to abort the trip at Junee, in the Riverina. But that’s another story.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23
Today Is the 80th anniversary of the Allies’ victory in the Battle of El Alamein in North Africa, with Australians playing a huge role. In the Sunday Mail’s historical column there is reference to highly decorated clearance diver (Navy frogman), Peter Tedman. We lived in Tedman Street, Zillmere for 28 years, but I think our street was named after a local baker.
About Author
