Marissa McGarry (left) and Sue Shipton rock to the music of Ian Maurice
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8
Former Penrith rugby league CEO and television sports commentator Ian ‘Bear’ Maurice is guest entertainer at Samford Grove Christmas party, but sport doesn’t rate a mention. In his senior years Ian is a song and dance man – well song, anyway. He is accompanied by June Lawson and they take Grove residents on a trip down memory lane. A bit far back down memory lane for some of us.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9
While attending a history lecture in the cinema here at Samford Grove a message comes through on my phone to say my close mate Greg Grainger has died. It isn’t unexpected (Greg has been battling bladder cancer for some time) but it still rocks me to my core, given how close we are. (See Vale Greg Grainger this website).
The Lecture, about Money, was expertly delivered by our next-door neighbour, John Rothwell. Another neighbour had her bag stolen at a local shopping centre and it contained her wallet, credit cards and phone. Her son phoned the number and an Indigenous sounding chap answered. “You don’t know what you’ve done to my mother,” the son said before the low life hung up and looked for another old lady to fleece.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10
Finally a non-hysterical, factual account of the Cronulla riots from former New South Wales Assistant Commissioner Mark Godwin. This account delves into the events which led to the riots and the reality of how few people from Sydney’s western suburbs were victims compared with the number of people impacted by revenge attacks.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11
Former Cronulla premiership winning back, Chad Townsend – yet another former player to join the media ranks – is adamant there is the talent available for two new clubs – PNG Chiefs and Perth Bears – to enter the NRL. Hopefully he is right and we don’t have two or three basket case clubs which seems to be the case every year in the AFL.
My brother Andrew arrives at Ferny Grove by train and we have one ale at the local tavern before the drive to Samford. It is the first time I have been in this pub since former Queensland and Brothers rugby league player, Reg Cannon was publican and that was probably back in the 1980s. It is a weird place and I wont be rushing back. A postie, obviously at the end of his shift, picks up a carton of Coopers pale ale from the ‘bottlo’. He has good taste.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12
Jon Sieben, a swimming Gold medal winner at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, is a knockaround bloke and enjoys himself so much as special guest at the Brisbane Beer and Beef Club lunch at the Gabba, that he becomes a member. I interview John who I have met only once previously – at the 1984 Queensland Sports Star of the Year Awards at Brisbane’s Hilton Hotel. Brisbane Heat are practising ahead of a Big Bash game.
From the lunch Sieben heads to The Valley pool to captain (along with Suzie O’Neill) the Australian (Dolphins) swim team against a World side in an event televised live on Channel 9. Beer and Beef club member, Lachlan Begg – who came dressed as Sir William Grace – heads straight for the Dolphins’ Christmas Party. Lachlan is the head of membership sales at the dolphins.
Harry Grant is named Golden Boot winner for 2025. The ceremony, held at QRL HQ, is low key compared to the grand affairs I attended in the 1980s and 90s. (I was a judge). I was invited this time but the Gabba function was already in the diary. Paul Hayes represents the QRL History Committee which I chair.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13
The women’s Big Bash final between Perth and Hobart in Perth is a poor standard. My wife, Marie says the same about the Brisbane Christmas Carols which mention everything except Jesus Christ.
Whenever Courier-Mail cartoonist Sean Leahy depicts prisoners or villains they are invariably white. That is the case again today when he has two prisoners in their cell. Come on Sean – we are multi-cultural society.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 14
Multi-cultural Australia’s pretty face is on show at Enoggera Dam today where there are many people of Indian and Chinese descent enjoying the water and surrounds. The ugly face of multi-cultural Australia shows is on display at iconic Bondi Beach with two blokes of Middle Eastern descent killing 15 fellow human beings in a terrorist shooting. Sydney’s eastern suburbs Jewish community were enjoying Hanukah when these two grubs went about pre-meditated mass murder.
Someone said recently – ‘Hello multi-Culturism, goodbye social cohesion’. Maybe they are right.
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