Ipswich’s 1926 Bulimba Cup side. Neil Irving Reynolds is second from left front row
MONDAY NOVEMBER 24
Bribie Island is smashed by a huge storm, the same storm which hits here in Samford village a bit later, depositing marble sized hail but not causing any real damage.
Veteran journalist Bob Howarth has died aged 81. I had very little to do with him during his time at Queensland newspapers, and I recall him primarily as an IT trainer. But his career in journalism was far more varied and interesting than mine, including a stint as managing director of the Post Courier in Port Moresby where I understand he packed a pistol for protection.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25
Police and Immigration in the UK have mounted an investigation into the proliferation of Turkish barber shops. It seems some of the shops could be fronts for a criminal network. I hope the authorities haven’t just woken up to this possibility given everyone we spoke to seemed aware of it when we were in England in June.
My former Courier-Mail colleague Mike O’Connor has another excellent column, this one about rising power prices. But his suggestion that Senator Murray Watt walk down Queen Street and ask Queenslanders how they feel about is not the smartest idea because Watt would struggle to find a Queenslander in Queen Street. It’s like saying if you want to know the pulse of the nation ask cab drivers for their views. Today you might struggle to find one that is fluent in English.
Striking school teachers protest outside Parliament House in Brisbane, chanting ‘We’re not going to take it any more’ as they demand wage increases. I can’t hear any male voices.
As I drive through the State Forest between Ferny Grove and the Samford Valley a PD Frozen food truck veers dangerously off the road before correcting. That’s what happens when you are on the phone while driving. A Landrover roars up behind me and tail gates for quite a distance even though I am travelling at the 70km speed limit. The vehicle sports a ‘Justice for Farm Animals’ sticker. Obviously this person cares more for ducks and chooks than she does for her fellow road user.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Content and Broadcast Manager Tom Mitchell leaves the Queensland Rugby League “after two turbulent years”, to quote Tom. He survived a cull of media people by the QRL last year and no doubt a lot of extra responsibility fell on his shoulders. Famous Brisbane rugby league club, Easts Tigers has entered into an affiliation with Perth Bears, a yet to be famous NRL club.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27
I chair a meeting of the QRL History meeting at QRL HQ and a beautiful letter from Nicolas Reynolds is tabled about his great uncle Neil Irving Reynolds, who was born in 1902 and rowed for the Mosman Club in Sydney. In 1926 Neil played rugby league for Ipswich in the inter-city Bulimba Cup and was part of a squad which won the competition – against Brisbane and Toowoomba. The Ipswich side was captained by Queensland great Norm Potter.
My sister Gay Lynch and her husband David are in Broken Hill and they make a short day trip from there to another mining town – Silverton – which also boasts the Mad Max Museum.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28
Former Queensland rugby league skipper, Trevor Gillmeister, who is facing a court appearance on assault charges, is my interview subject at Family of League Foundation Sunshine Coast Committee Christmas lunch at Maroochydore RSL. Some members of the Sunshine Coast committee are concerned I might embarrass ‘Gilly’ by asking about the night in question. ‘Gilly’ and I have an off-the-record chat about the incident at Brisbane’s Victory Hotel which brought police intervention, but I steer clear of it during my interview, except for one smart arse quip, which I think he takes with a grain of salt. The other guest speaker is Broncos’ hooker, Billy Walters.
Former Valleys utility Peter Lamb, who is in the audience, has fond memories of touring France and England in 1979 with the Australian Schoolboys side. In France the Aussies often played teams much older than them and Peter says three of the tourists were taken to hospital after the game against Catalans in Perpignan. A mate of mine from Taree says rugby league great Harry Wells helped pay expenses for Wauchope youngster, Ian Schubert on the first ever Australian Schoolboys northern hemisphere tour in 1972. Schubert went on to play at Test level, just like Wells.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29
My wife Marie and her sister Carolyn Soward leave on a three-day comedy cruise from Brisbane with their brothers Kevin and John Donnelly and their ladies, Virginia and Jan.
Brumbies’ rugby coach, Stephen Larkham makes excuses for the Wallabies poor showings this year saying they had a tough schedule. So the All Blacks and Springboks had an easy schedule? Rugby union tv ratings are poor from what I understand, likewise AFLW ratings. I find a lot of union games boring, but watching AFLW is absolute torture.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30
A Bribie Island resident phones Ian ‘Macca’ McNamara on ABC radio and gives a vivid, engrossing account of the storm which hit on Monday. I am disappointed when Macca cuts him short to take a call from a giggling lady talking about music generated by AI.
Watch ABC ‘Offsiders’ for first time this year and it comes as no surprise that Aunty has three females and one male as the panel members on this sports current affairs show. The male is black and one of the females Muslim, all in keeping with Aunty’s policy of inclusiveness. I don’t recognise any member of the panel (not that that means much) but I have concerns about their credibility. It turns out all four panel members have a good knowledge of sport.
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