Sue Mortimer (left) and Robyn Hedley at Daffodil Day Samford Grove
MONDAY, AUGUST 18
Two old West Wyalong rugby league jerseys were snapped for $18 by Paul Hayes on his recent New South Wales Road trip. When I think of West Wyalong I think of rugby league and the town’s former Test forward, Ron Crowe. Paul is the archivist on the Queensland Rugby League History Committee, which I chair. He is also a ‘collector’.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19
My wife, Marie and I attend Daffodil Day fund raiser at Samford Grove. Laurie Parker from Charleville sends me a copy of a 1977 Brisbane Rugby League program. I was number 19 in a Brothers’ first grade squad named to play Redcliffe.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20
There is a funeral notice in The Courier-Mail for Raymond Clarke from Zillmere in Brisbane’s northern suburbs. Clarke was a prolific letter writer to the paper and from memory was a staunch Australian rules man. Marie and I lived at Zillmere for 25 years, so no doubt we crossed paths without knowing it.
Gary Dunbar, a follower of this site, leaves for Europe on his ‘Riding for Robert’ cycle trip, to raise money for a former Nambour Crushers’ Rugby League player who has MND. Gary has a big heart.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21
Learn of the passing of Ipswich rugby league identity, Merv Stumer. There is a debate on Radio SEN about the merits of leading try scorers in rugby league across the decades. Former Test winger, Ken Irvine has been the benchmark, and a caller (Anthony) makes a good point that in Irvine’s day if you touched the corner post you were out, whereas now you can send the corner post into Kingdom Come and it is still a try.
Police and Brisbane City Council have knocked back an approach for a pro-Palestine protest march over the Story Bridge. One of the potential marchers says this akin to condoning ‘murders in the Gaza Strip’. Talking about drawing a long bow.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 22
Former Canberra, Broncos, Queensland and Australian prop, Sam Backo’s funeral is held at Ingham in North Queensland. Greg Shannon, a member of the QRL History Committee, is among the mourners and has a chat to Sam’s son, Daniel, who was on the Cowboys’ books at one stage. A cousin, Joe Backo, was wearing a Canberra Raiders’ jersey but Greg said he didn’t recognise anyone from the Raiders. That doesn’t mean the Raiders weren’t represented.
Former school principal, Gordon Pullar recalls teaching in Queensland’s Outback and oppressive heat in rooms without air conditioning. “There were screens on the windows, but the dust came in anyway,” Gordon says. He also recalls the crocodile hunters that were prolific in those days. Nowe it’s just the crocs that are prolific. Another Samford Grove resident, Jim Hedley played for Norths’ Devils in the early 1970s. Jim was a Cannon Hill Stars Junior. “I was going to play for Easts, but (prominent coach) Len Conroy said I was in Wynnum territory,” Jim recalls. They were the days of residential football. There is a notice on a whiteboard down town alerting locals to the fact a senior citizen has lost his favourite walking stick.
Our son, Damien; his wife, Emma and daughters Parker and Evan are in Munich and they attend football match between Bayern Munich (6) and Leipzig (0). Harry Kane scores three goals. The Ricketts’ clan are staying with friends. The husband, Tobias Wahnschaffe, is a noted sports commentator.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23
The likes of Steve McCosker, Peter Lawton, Allan Smith, Brian Canavan and Doug Muir attend a back to the 70s day at the Toowoomba Clydesdales’ Past Players function at Toowoomba’s Athletic OvaL. Toowoomba has always been synonymous with high standards in rugby league in Queensland and it’s great to see the Clydesdales back in the Queensland Cup competition. There is a re-enactment of Toowoomba fullback, John Cowley’s legendary kick at goal which gave the Clydesdales victory over Brisbane in 1970, and in the process, the inter-city Bulimba Cup. Current player, Corey Fanning was given the role, but was wide with his shot.
Courier-Mail journalist, Travis Meyn refuses to take a backward step in his questioning of Gold Coast Titans’ coach, Des Hasler over the future of highly paid forward, David Fifita. Hasler stonewalls every time and for Meyn that is too much, given Hasler’s notorious lack of co-operation with the media. Travis calls the crowd for today’s Titans’ home game against the New Zealand Warriors ’embarrassing’ because most of the fans are going for the Warriors. I feel Meyn’s frustration, but I also can understand how he would get on the nerves of some people because he has an abrasive style of communication.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24
Jacob’s Well Tavern is the venue for a 70th birthday bash for my brother, Jeff. The local fishing club takes over the small beer garden area out the front, while in the large back beer garden there is excellent live music from Sun Bear and The Sheriffs. Jeff played rugby league for Marist Brothers in Lismore and recalls the time he spent a night in hospital after being knocked out in a match against Casino. As we leave Jacob’s Well we pass a cricket ground where two (local I presume) Indian sides are playing.
Brisbane Broncos’ thrash the Newcastle Knights with Broncos’ fullback, Reece Walsh sacrificing a try when he hands the ball to Kobe Hetherington to do the honours to mark his 100th first grade game. Veteran journalist, Pat Welsh describes it as ‘rubbish’ and I agree. Learn that Broncos utility, Ben Hunt’s father, Geoff, played for Central Queensland against Great Britain in Rockhampton in 1984. I covered that game for the Brisbane Telegraph. I drove English journalist, Ray Fletcher and photographer, Andrew Varley to the game via lunch in Monto.
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