Ron Slater and his son, Billy
MONDAY, JANUARY 27
The annual Ross Livermore Memorial Lecture will be the main focus of the Queensland Rugby League History Committee which I will chair this week. The topic is The Super League ‘war’ of 1995-97, which I covered for ‘The Courier-Mail’. The guest speakers will be SL CEO, John Ribot and Australian Rugby Leeague contracted player of the time, Ben Ikin, who is now CEO of the QRL.
Penrith have poached promising forward, Harry Armstrong from the Broncos. Armstrong must be a great prospect because we are repeatedly told what a great junior nursery the Panthers boast.
Brisbane’s first Metro bus is named after former Broncos skipper, Darren Lockyer.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28
There is an ABC series – ‘Eat the Invaders’ – presented by Indigenous man, Tony Armstrong. When I first saw the title, especially leading up to Australia Day – Invasion Day as it referred to by a large chunk of the indigenous community – I thought………Surely not.
A young butcher at Samford Meats says I am his favourite customer, after he sees my Roosters’ polo. School resumes for our grandsons (Ethan and Connor) and grand daughters (Parker and Evan) at Eagle Junction (Brisbane) and East Ayr (North Queensland respectively. It is Evan’s first day at school and she loves it.
Former Gold Coast Titan, Tyrone Roberts will play for Ballina Seagulls in the Northern Rivers Premiership. Ballina are reigning premiers. I played just one game against Ballina – a trial for Murwillumbah Brothers in 1973, with the match held at the high school ground. I also trained with Ballina when holidaying there with my parents in 1972. My father, Jon, played for South Lismore against Ballina several times.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29
Prominent North Queensland rugby league identity, Ron ‘Mop’ Slater has died aged 72. Ron’s son is Queensland State of Origin coach, Billy Slater, one of the code’s all-time great fullbacks. Ron was a lock forward who played under-21s for Manly-Warringah, and also at his home town, Innisfail; Mt Isa, Redcliffe and on the Sunshine Coast. He played and coached the ‘Town’ club in Mt Isa, and represented the city in the Foley Shield, helping them to the 1979 final when they defeated Townsville in Townsville. Ron captained Wide Bay in 1984 in a match against Great Britain at Salter Oval, Bundaberg, a match I covered for The Courier-Mail.
Former Australian forward, Gary Stevens has also died (see Vale Gary Stevens this website). Also learn of the passing of my former Murwillumbah schoolmate, Geoff Everingham, aged 71.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30
John Ribot and Ben Ikin attend meeting of QRL History meeting. Ribot recalls Ron Slater whacking him in a BRL game and breaking his nose. Another guest at the meeting is Graceville deputy principal, Liam Bray who is a nephew of 1929-30 Kangaroo tour skipper, Tommy Gorman, and is willing to loan to the committee some marvellous items from Tom’s playing days.
There is a blast from the past in ‘The Courier-Mail’ today with a greyhounds story written by David Brasch, a former workmate of mine. Haven’t seen his name in print for maybe 15 years. Last I heard he was living on the North Coast of New South Wales, near Port Macquarie.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 31
There is a reunion at XXXX brewery for the Nevilles – Paul Vautin’s 1995 Queensland State of Origin side, which defied the odds to defeat an almost all-international New South Wales side in all three games. I have business in the QRL offices where I run into Don Rayment and his son, Andrew.
The Rayments, who have an organic beef operation in Birdsville, have landed an invitation to the XXXX function through QRL director, Clinton Begg from North Queensland. I must confess to a degree of disappointment at not being invited, given I covered the entire series and its build-up in more depth I would argue, than anyone else in the media, and philosophically, I was an ARL man.
A bi-plane flies over Samford for the second day in a row. I don’t think it was Chinese. At Happy Hour here at Samford Grove, Laurie Hayes recalls Broncos’ chairman, the late Paul ‘Porky’ Morgan throwing open the gates ahead of a match at ANZ Stadium, Nathan, when the queues got too long. Laurie, a Brisbane Lions AFL historian, went to the first Bears (now Lions) match in 1987, as well as the first Broncos’ match in 1988 and the first Super Rugby match in Queensland in 1996. I wonder how many people can match that.
France defeat Wales 63-0 in a Six Nations Rugby Union match. Wow.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1
Souths Magpies hold their season launch at Davies Park, West End, a function which doubles as a reunion for the 1985 Premiership winning side coached by Wayne Bennett, who is present. I covered the ’85 match for the Brisbane Telegraph. My fellow history committee member, John McCoy interviewed the players at their Mad Monday drinks at the Alliance Hotel, Spring Hill back in ’85. The family of prop, Mark Meskell ran the pub. While they were celebrating at the bar, Wallabies fullback, Roger Gould called in for a drink, and stayed a while.
Steve Haddan is Donald Trump at John Ribot’s 70th. Steve is a master of impersonation. I love his Irish accent jokes and also his taking-off of former Queensland Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
It is 50 years since my wife, Marie and I went out on our first date – at the Italo-Australian Club, Lismore in New South Wales. The club no longer exists, sadly.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2
High winds hit North Queensland while in parts of Victoria the temperature hits 38 degrees. Nothing unusual about either, but just another example of the size of this country. I had to laugh when, on my first trip to the UK, someone asked me what the weather was like in Australia.
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