Classy outfit in Ayr’s CBD
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24
There should be an enduring memorial to legendary Test halfback, Barry Muir. So says Queensland Rugby League chairman, Bruce Hatcher, and it is hard to argue. Bruce is set to put the case to the Queensland Government, but there could be a few obstacles. For a start, people will argue that something should have been done soon after the end of Barry’s direct involvement with the code, when he finished his coaching career. Others will raise the matter of Barry being banned from the game for two years, for spitting at a referee. Meanwhile, Wynnum-Manly stalwarts are trying to have ground breaking Indigenous star, Lionel Morgan inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame. Both are worthy projects, and both involve men from my home district, the Tweed Valley of northern New South Wales.
Former News Ltd chief, Ken Cowley has died, aged 87. He was often the face of News during the Super League ‘War’ in the mid 1990s. I remember attending one of his press conferences, at The Regent on the Park in Sydney, when News announced that Britain and New Zealand had aligned with the rebel organisation.
I have a new follower of this website – Rod Mace, who I met me at ‘The Moor’ at Hawick in ‘The Borders’, during the Common Riding in 2014, a great Scots tradition. It remains one of the highlights of my life, being invited to ‘The Hut’, with the locals, to celebrate the town’s history. (It’s a long story).
Marie and I are in Townsville, after spending time with our son, Damien; his wife, Emma and daughters, Parker and Evan, at Ayr (not the Scottish town, but the capital of the Burdekin). Marie and I enjoy chicken wings in the Australian Hotel in Palmer Street. A bloke in a Brisbane Lions AFL singlet comments on my Newtown Jets rugby league t-shirt. He grew up at Marrickville in the heart of Jets’ territory. There is a bloke wearing a Queensland State of Origin rugby league jersey, while another bloke is decked out in a Hermit Park (Townsville) Australian rules jersey. All these tops are preferable to one I saw a bloke wearing at Ayr. It promoted the Northern Territory, but lacked class.
My fellow rugby league historian, Lyle Beaton reckons France could have beaten England in their World Cup game in Bolton, Lancashire. England led only 18-12 at halftime, but blew the French away in the second half. French five eighth, St Ettienne born Arthur Mourgue, showed heaps of class.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25
Marie and I catch ferry to Magnetic Island. At the Townsville terminal, Marie looks after back packs for a young female tourist, who needs to go to the loo. Marie, Michelle Gordon and Janelle Vidler carried ports (suitcases) when they embarked on their ‘back packing’ trip around New Zealand, in 1970, nothing like the fancy stuff travellers have now. The real estate office at Nelly Bay. still displays AFL scarves. Come on – this is Cowboys’ rugby league land. We are driven to Picnic Bay by a lass who is originally from Newcastle-on-Tyne in England. At the Picnic Bay pub the television features a replay of a try by Ben Jones-Bishop (Sheffield Eagles), Jamaica’s first in a Rugby League World Cup. Jamaica were beaten 68-6 by New Zealand, in Hull. Channel 10 Sport is so bad, and not just because there is no mention of the World Cup.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26
An Argentinian waitress looks after Marie and I when we dine at Peppers, Nelly Chat to a Scots lass, from Inverness, who lives at Picnic Bay, and, like us, is escaping the heat, because there is a power outage back at the bay. There is an art class on the pier at Picnic Bay and I hear one of the budding artists say that her mum will take in Ukrainian refugees – in a granny flat.
Dual rugby international, Ben Te’o will coach Redcliffe’s Queensland Cup side. Dolphins’ favourite, Mick Roberts will look after the academy.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27
Englishmen, Andy Farrell and Adrian Morley, along with Welshmen, Clive Sullivan and David Watkins are inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame in the UK. I have seen all four men play live, and have had the pleasure of interviewing Farrell, Morley and Watkins.
A fisherman offers a freshly caught Coral Trout to Marie and I for $100. Thanks, but no thanks. Then again, I think Coral Trout is selling for something like $80kg back in Brisbane, and this one is a beauty.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
There is filming on the Picnic Bay esplanade as Marie and I wait for the bus to the ferry for the trip back to the mainland. Blackboard in front of ferry terminal coffee cart reads: “I entered a competition and won five years supply of Marmite – one jar”. Young male Water Board employees invade our space on the ferry. Crazy really. There is so much room elsewhere, and these are still Covid times.
Marie and I drive back to Ayr to see Damien, who turns 42. On a roundabout in Parker Street, there is a dark chap bouncing a basketball, and preaching something or other. He is a Rastafarian, a local tells me. BBQ at Damien’s residence where we are joined by neighbours, and Marie’s brother, John Donnelly and wife, Jan, who are staying in Cascade’s Caravan Park with their dog, Millie.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29
Damien and Emma enjoy dinner at Burnt Sugar restaurant in Ayr, while we babysit. Grand Friends Day in NSW.
Marie’s niece, Emma Kelly is part of the Borrisoleigh team, which wins the Tipperary Camogie Grand Final.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30
Fellow History Committee member, Greg Shannon started following Wests Panthers in the Brisbane competition, because of dashing forward, Steve McCosker. Greg, the North Queensland Cowboys’ official historian, is visiting family in Ayr. Damien’s workmate, Ben Kavanagh, a Darling Downs lad, says former Test prop, Shane Webcke almost played a season with Clifton-Allora Wattles, in the Toowoomba competition, the year after he finished in the NRL. My former Murwillumbah High classmate, Phil Batty mentions how the likes of Old Boys’ stars, Lloyal Stewart and Neville ‘Knocker’ O’Connor were our heroes, when we were growing up. So true. The local footballers were the men we looked up to, not the Sydney or Brisbane stars, because we hardly ever saw them.
Three cars stolen overnight in Ayr. The Townsville disease has spread south.
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