The story behind the Gabba pig
MONDAY, DECEMBER 1
A pig is let loose on the Gabba during a cricket Test. What a story and The Courier-Mail’s Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock has a background piece about ‘the ground’s most infamous’ – or is it, most celebrated – pitch invader. It was 1982 and I was in England covering the Kangaroo Rugby League Tour for the Brisbane Telegraph. England’s cricketers were batting when the pig was let loose on the ground with the names (Ian) ‘Botham’ and ‘Eddie’ (Heming) painted on its sides. The pig was ‘rescued’ by policeman Ken Rach who was a Brisbane Souths Rugby League trainer, and later became a foundation trainer at the Broncos. You can imagine the stick Ken got from ‘The Hill’.
Crash’s story finally unveils the background to the plot to release the pig, as well as the identities of some of the young blokes involved. I have known for many years that those involved were from around Lismore in Northern New South Wales, the city where I was born. One of those, I was told, came from a family that lived next door to my parents at Lismore Heights in the 1970s. The father was a vet and I have been led to believe that one of his sons was studying veterinarian science at university in Brisbane and was the one who put the pig to sleep so it could be smuggled into the ground in an Esky.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2
Doug Walters making a century on debut for Australia at the Gabba is one of those magic memories from the ground aired on Radio SEN. That was 1965 and I was there with my father (Jon William) on a day trip from Murwillumbah. Another bloke recalls legendary fan, ‘Happy Jack’ (better known as Valleys Rugby League Club’s number one supporter) revving up the crowd while another mentions the pool tables in the Cricketers Club and the fact you could get beer ‘off the wood’. I almost phone to mention that the Gabba hosted a number of memorable rugby league matches, none more so than the Second Test between Australia and France in 1955 (I was only two) when the French won 29-28 after being down 28-16. Tries were worth three points. The crowd was 45,000 which I think would be a record for the old Gabba. The Australians were captained by the ‘Immortal’ Clive Churchill and included other legends like Brian Davies, Duncan Hall, Alex Watson and Harry Wells. The French were captained by dual rugby International Jacques Merquey from Marseilles and included Merquey’s Marseilles’ teammate Jean Dop; Carcassonne superstar Gilbert Benausse and hard running centre Roger Rey from Lyons. (In those days rugby league in France boasted elite clubs in the big cities. Not so now).
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3
Instead of being in North West Hospital for a colonoscopy I am in an ambulance after a bad reaction to the preparation. My sodium levels drop alarmingly, just as they did earlier in the year when I had influenza A. And once again I am in Prince Charles Hospital.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4
I watch first ball of the Gabba pink Ball Test from my hospital bed and predictably the ‘Barmy Army’ sing ‘God Save Your Gracious King’, a song that will do more to hasten a Republic in this country than any expensive ad campaign by Peter Fitzsimons and his mob. A bloke in the ward across from me arrives with a suitcase and staff say ‘Welcome back’. I am discharged at 3 pm and the bloke who wheels me to the cab rank is an ex-truckie who everyone knows. My Indian cabbie lives ay Banyo and is a good driver, but needs to work on his English. When he asks for my address, so he can put it in satnav, he can’t spell mountain (as in Camp Mountain Road). And Satnav takes him along Camp Mountain Road from the Samford State Forest (the long way), instead of directing him to turn left into the road when we hit Samford Village. So it just goes to show that satnav is not perfect just as AI is not perfect as it had THIS Steve Ricketts based on the Sunshine Coast. I have never been based there. The cabbie also has FoxSports cricket on his smart phone on the dash!! He says he didn’t discover cricket until he came to Australia in 2018. He loves it now and will play in a local grand final this weekend.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5
Courier-Mail journalist Mikaela Mulveney has a tense exchange with England cricket captain Ben Stokes about the fact the Pom cricketers were not wearing helmets while riding scooters in Brisbane’s CBD. I can understand Stokes being pissed off but at the same time Mikaela has every right to ask the question. Stokes will have to get used to the fact Australia is an even bigger nanny state than England, and that is saying something.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
Christmas in The Village (Samford) is excellent, as usual, as are the burgers from Samford Stags (rugby League) stall. I love the Stuart Clan Pipe Band as do a couple of Muslim women near me. Fellow residents of Samford Grove give a ukulele concert at the RSL. At the Men’s Shed stall at the CWA Hall one of the volunteers says his dad was meant to be on the train which crashed on the Samford line in 1947 leaving 16 people dead. His Dad was a Queensland Rail employee but had too many hours up and had to have a day off under award provisions.
Fellow Grove resident Russell Platt celebrates his 80th birthday at Mooloolaba Surf Club. Russell and his wife Eris are wonderful company, so full of life.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7
I learn that BBC political journalist Kevin Fitzpatrick is a mad Oldham Rugby League fan. I have been to two Oldham games at their old ground The Watersheddings – v the Kangaroos in 1986 and v Bradford in 1990.
Marie and I and other members of the St Flannan’s Playgroup cohort enjoy a Greek BBQ at the home of Derek and Marg Barea at Bridgemann Downs. (They have Italian heritage). The BBQ was a gift to Derek from his dentist, a thankyou for building work Derek had done for him.
Australia win Gabba Test against England by 8 wickets.
About Author
