Brian Atherton (left) and Barry ‘Carrots’ Morrison in Taree
MONDAY OCTOBER 27
Harry Grant has a new nickname on the Kangaroo tour – Hindy. The brilliant hooker started his senior rugby league career with Melbourne Storm in 2018, and since then the Storm have won a title – in 2020. But Harry was on loan to Wests Tigers. ‘Hindy’ – Nathan Hindmarsh – is the butt of many jokes among his fellow FoxSports panel members because he never won a premiership in his 15 years with Parramatta. The First Test at Wembley rated well on BBC television despite being an ordinary game. The Kangaroos have been staying in the same London hotel as the touring Springbok rugby union side and according to News Ltd reports players from both squads have mixed socially.
Catherine Millane from Bargara has a letter in The Courier-Mail about the terrible new Bureau of Meteorology website. She expresses the same view as me – all that money spent on what amounts to an inferior product.
A group from Brisbane State High visits Samford Museum and the museum volunteers – among them my fellow QRL History Committee member Paul Hayes – are delighted to see students from an inner city school at their rural venue.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28
Renowned rugby league mind, Steve Murphy has returned to the Gold Coast Titans to mentor the coaching staff. Steve is a top bloke and a top operator.
Our eldest son, Damien, who turns 45 today, is planning to take his eldest daughter, Parker to long running play ‘The Mousetrap’, which Marie and I saw in London way back in 1978. It has been going since 1952. We saw it at St Martin’s Theatre in the West End and that is where it is playing now.
My favourite Courier-Mail columnist, Mike O’Connor bags the idea of beach clubs here in Australia, but seems OK with Cool Cabanas. I think they also are un-Australian (and not just because they were invented by a Kiwi) because they block your view of the water. Our beaches are meant to be for all and it shouldn’t be a case of first in, best dressed.
A four wheel driver in front of me at Grange is not the sort of bloke I would like to meet in a pub. Two of the classy stickers on the back of his vehicle read: ‘Fuck Murdoch’ ‘Don’t Read The Courier-Mail’. I think there was a CFMEU sticker somewhere as well. Another four wheel drive has this sticker: ‘Fossil Fuel incorporated’.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29
South Sydney confirm the signing of Gold Coast Titans’ second rower, David Fifita to a two year deal. I just hope he finally realises his potential.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30
I drive south on the Pacific Highway via morning tea at busy High Tide Cafe, Chinderah and lunch near Kempsey. Stay with friends Brian and Carole Atherton in Taree. Originally from Widnes in England, Brian was my captain-coach at Murwillumbah Brothers in 1973. He makes a mean chicken curry.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31
Manning District rugby league legend, Barry ‘Carrots’ Morrison makes for an entertaining travelling companion on the trip from Taree to Gloucester for a Family of League Foundation Lunch at Avon Valley Hotel. Carrots represented Newcastle in the 1960s which is some feat because outside of Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane battled for the title of best club football in Australia, with the Illawarra also in the mix. Barry’s most memorable game for Newcastle was against New Zealand in 1967, with the Bruce Castle skippered Kiwis suffering a loss in their very first match on the trip. The crowd was around 14,000. Seven years after that game Barry played for North Coast against Great Britain at Grafton, a match won by the tourists – a match I attended. “I stiff armed (Welsh prop) Jim Mills but it had no effect,” Carrots tells me. As our mini-bus cruises into Gloucester ‘Carrots’ reveals he was involved in the construction of the powdered milk factory and the fire station in the town.
The lunch is expertly hosted by former top referee, Mick Stone with recently retired Manning River Times sports journalist, MIck McDonald also assisting with interviews of the likes of former New South Wales State of Origin winger, Ziggy Niszczot and top bush footballers John Parish and Gary McQuillan. Proceeds from the day go to the outfitting of a side in Papua New Guinea, nominated by former Australian soldier Joey Proctor, who is the partner of Brian and Carole Atherton’s daughter Emma. Joey is PNG by heritage. The Gloucester Magpies Rugby League Club have an historical display to accompany the lunch.
Greg Hogan proves great company when Brian and I adjourn to Group 3 Leagues Club on our return to Taree. When I go to buy Greg a beer he says: ‘Not on my watch”, a reflection of his ‘Irish’ hospitality. The Hogan family roots go back to County Tipperary in Ireland, on the border with Clare. Greg is mourning the recent passing of his older brother, Mark, who played for Taree United and represented North Coast against the Poms in the same match which featured Carrots Morrison. (See Vale Mark Hogan this website).
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1
To this day Brian Atherton is regularly reminded by Taree residents that he was once a bread delivery man for WR Ruff and Sons. “And I always reply – ‘and you still owe me for half a loaf’.”
I drive south to Maitland in the Hunter Valley where I check into the Endeavour Motel, which is located in an area where there are many historic buildings and a statue of champion fighter and Australian folk hero, Les Darcy – in the park next to East Maitland ‘Bowlo’, where I enjoy a couple of schooners. A bowler near me recalls getting the cane at school “on the back of the hand”.
Back at the Endeavour I enjoy a lovely dinner with my former Murwillumbah Brothers’ teammate, Greg Grainger; his wife Maree; Greg’s cousin, Mick Tanner and his wife Lee. Mick and Lee’s son Regan played NRL for Newcastle Knights and is now a spokesman for coal miners in the Hunter. Greg’s grandson, Chase Butler is contracted to the Knights and today he and the rest of the SCG Ball (under-19) squad meet at Knights HQ with new coach, Matt Lantry.
The big news in Brisbane is that Roosters’ supremo, Nick Politis has bought the iconic Caxton Hotel from the Farquhar family. I know Ross and Steve Farquhar, particularly Steve, who played rugby league for Queensland. The news really caught me by surprise, especially as I know how much Steve loves the business.
Former Penrith prop John Farragher OAM, dies aged 68. The Gilgandra junior became a quadriplegic when a scrum collapsed in a game against Newtown at Henson Park. I met him once, when he was a greeter at Penrith Leagues Club.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Rule Britannia is played as England’s rugby league side takes the field against the Kangaroos at Everton FC’s Stadium in Liverpool. Great to hear the song which some in the woke community regard as pushing the days of colonialism. Australia wins 14-4 (a victory for the Colonials) despite spoiling tactics from the Poms. “Let’s turn to the footy,” says a Channel 9 newsreader after reports on the two rugby codes. (The Wallabies are also in the Northern Hemisphere). He means Aussie rules when he says ‘footy’. Channel 9 has the rights to ‘the footy’, which, as we all know, is rugby league. This bloke should be reminded of that.
East Maitland’s High Street is largely a depressing sight with yards cluttered with junk; long grass and empty shops. The Windsor Castle Pub features great old beer posters out the front. I also walk to top of Stockade Hill and on the way back I am attacked by a plover nesting on the old croquet green. Passing motorists chuckle as I duck and weave.
I enjoy lunch at Greg and Maree Grainger’s Taro residence, and Greg shows me some of his family’s Indigenous history. Naturally we talk ‘footy’ and Greg says he never had a win over bitter town rivals, South Murwillumbah when he played for Brothers in 1974-75. He did have a win or two against the other town club, Old Boys.
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