Graham Roberts (right) and Greg Bandiera reminisce about their Balmain playing days
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Graham Roberts was a fine rugby league player with Cudgen Headland, Brisbane Brothers, Balmain and South Sydney, but could just as easily have played rugby union for Randwick. Graham is the son of former Australian Rugby League winger, Ron Roberts who famously scored the match winning try for the Kangaroos in the Third and Deciding Test of the 1950 Ashes series – at the SCG. Graham played rugby union at Newtown Boys High, so was no stranger to the 15-man code. “I was approached to play for Randwick when Dad had the Bat and Ball Hotel (not far from the SCG),”Roberts tells me. “A teammate of mine in the SG Ball (at South Sydney) was John Berne, who went on to play for Randwick and then the Wallabies, before returning to league”. (I played against Graham in the Group 18/Gold Coast League, in 1973).
It’s disappointing to see our new Liberal Government here in Queensland is just as big on propaganda as the Labor Party, who were notorious for churning out propaganda disguised as community service announcements.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
1984 Olympic swimming Gold Medalist, Jon Seiben is a guest on the Sam Kekovich, Leon Wiegard podcast. Sam and Jon caught up at a fund raising night at Wynnum Leagues a little while back, and Sam asked the triple Olympian if he would join him for a chat.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
The driver of a ute has backed onto the communal lawn at the Samford Road pedestrian gate here at Samford Grove and has left one hell of a mess. Obviously the driver got his/her licence in a corn flakes packet. Chantal, one of two resident hair dressers here at Samford Grove, tells me she has Polish, German and Scottish (McNamara) blood.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4
Darcy Watt, a producer from ABC television’s “That Pacific Sports Show’, is chasing footage of the 1981 South Queensland v Papua New Guinea Presidents XIII rugby league match at Lang Park, a match I covered for the Brisbane Telegraph. Darcy has interviewed PNG player, John Wagambie for the show. The ABC covered the game, so if Aunty doesn’t have any film I don’t know who does.
So many television travel shows which I tune into, whether at British or Australian locations, manage to demonise the early settlers; colonialism, the largely white Governments of the time, or all three. The Travel Show on SBS tonight is an example with Claudia Karvan providing the usually bagging of European settlers in Australia.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5
The Family of League State Lunch is held at The Star in the city and Marie and I are guests of the Foundation for a function where Ben Davis is MC and Queensland Rugby League CEO, Ben Ikin the special guest. On the bus to the city I chat with a Swiss lady (French speaking) who has been to Sydney and has Victoria, South Australia, Uluru and Cairns on the agenda, in that order. She was off to a modern art exhibition at Southbank today.
New National CEO of the Family of League, Darren Gocher is a guest at The Star and is introduced to me by State CEO, Andrew Blucher. Darren’s father, John refereed grand finals, and Darren followed him into the refereeing ranks. Darren’s most memorable game was the 2001 State of Origin decider at Brisbane’s ANZ Stadium, the game in which Allan Langer returned to Queensland duty from England. ‘Alf’ is at the lunch, and my wife, Marie and I have a nice chat with him. Former Newtown (Sydney) halfback, later Brisbane Wests’ coach, Peter Foreman is made a Life Member of the Foundation, mainly for his work with the Victorian Committee. When I mention to Peter that I met his former teammate, Brian ‘Chicka’ Moore on the Gold Coast in 1974, he tells me he has some great yarns about the former Kangaroo tourist, who passed away in 2014. Sadly I didn’t get a chance to catch up with Peter again during the afternoon. Valleys’ stalwart Ron Gurnett is Volunteer of the Year. It is great to see that talented journalist, Jorja Brinums has a role with FOL. Jorja was one of the number of media people to lose their jobs in a QRL staff cleanout.
On the bus from the city there is a young bloke standing in the aisle who leans all over me, even though the bus is anything but crowded. I comment to Marie that he is either pissed or disabled, a remark which brings a filthy look from a woman sitting near us.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
I’m now 73. I think that’s getting into the ‘pretty old’ category. I start my 74th year by watching rugby league from England. St Helens are no match for Wigan in what is billed as the original derby game, dating back to 1875 I believe, when both clubs played rugby union. There are emotional scenes at Castleford as the home side accounts for Wakefield in another derby.
Norths Juniors’ president, Peter Fraser is probably around my age. He has been president for 30 years and is Norths to the core. Peter recalls being at the Devils’ old ground, Oxenham Park, in 1960 when there was a riot and future Test referee, Don Lancashire barricaded himself in the dressing rooms, under police guard. After attending Norths’ trophy presentation afternoon at the old Norths St Josephs complex at Virginia, we adjourn to Bishop Park at Nundah for the Qld Cup semi between Norths and Townsville Blackhawks. I watch Norths warm up with the music of Neil Young and Simon and Garfunkle accompanying their stretching and run throughs. Obviously the fitness guy is an older bloke. Great choice of music, by the way. I walk into the ground with former NRL coach, Brian Smith, whose son, Rohan, coaches Norths. The Canberra Raiders are playing the Dolphins at Redcliffe tomorrow and they have a contingent in the stand, led by Mick Crawley and Ryan Hinchcliffe. Blackhawks’ coach is former Canberra Raiders’ skipper, Terry Campese. There are two older supporters in the stand, one who remembers me as a second rower with Brothers in the 1970s. I’m sort of used to being recognised as an old scribe, but not so much as a former player. Referees official, Tony Maksoud is also in the stand, and our grandson Connor asks if he is a radio commentator, given he has a headset. Norths win.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
My English mate, Paddy Hart turns 77. Paddy lives in Widnes in Cheshire, although he still calls it Lancashire. Marie I watch movie September 5, which somehow seems appropriate given the current state of play in the Middle East. September 5 is about the Munich Olympics terrorist atrocity.
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The only State of Origin match I ever attended was the 2001 game when Alfie Langer returned. Given that it was the only one, suspect I’d have enjoyed it under any circumstances, but his role clearly made it memorable by any standards. I was there reporting the British Lions rugby union tour, and greatly enjoyed pointing out that aside from the parts played by Jason Robinson and Phil Larder in the Lions win, one reason why the Gabba felt like a home ground for them was that most locals were far more interested in State of Origin. From memory Lang Park was being rebuilt, so it was played in a small stadium on the edge of the city. There was union interest – about the first person I saw there was the former England union captain Will Carling
Hi Steve,
I know this is not a political column you run here, and you largely steer clear of that stuff.
However I endorse your comments
regarding the ignorance and lack
of respect afforded the early
settlers in this country. This is
something that really gets on my
goat. If it wasn’t for these people
(almost exclusively white and from the British Isles), doing the
hard, tough yards, people like
Claudia Karvan wouldn’t be able
to lead the soft, free, easy lives
they do. I’m sure there are school kids (and twenty-somethings),
out there who think the Opera House and Harbour Bridge were
in place when the first fleet sailed
into Sydney Harbour.
Here endth the rant!
Cheers Bryan Clancy