Wayne Abdy (number 8) in the 1968 Queensland side
MONDAY, JANUARY 12
A beautifully crafted try features in Anthony’ O’Brien’s excellent video tribute to former Brothers’ player and later president, Pat Maguire who died on Friday while playing lawn bowls at Gaythorne. The try was started by Reg Cannon, who darted from dummy half and found giant forward, Dennis Manteit in support. Manteit then unloaded a brilliant pass to Maguire who raced 30 metres to score in the corner. In the tribute – on O’Brien’s Brisbane Facebook page – Maguire says lock forward, Wayne Abdy was probably the fastest man in the club. “Which was a bit disheartening if you were a winger”, Maguire said. Brothers Junior Rugby League’s Facebook Page also pays its respects to Pat.
Our eldest lad Damien recalls that Pat’s son, Scott was the star player at Brothers when Damien played under-16s, and later first grade for the club in the 1990s. Damien; his wife Emma and their daughters Parker and Evan arrive back in Brisbane after six months in Britain and Europe. Parker and Evan’s first request is for Aussie chicken nuggets and pasta.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13
“It all comes back to rugby league.” That’s what my kids say, usually accompanied by a rolling of the eyes. Today is further proof that this is the case. Our eldest son, Damien; his wife and two daughters talk about their travels. Harry Potter World in London was one of their ports of call and when they talk Potter the movie, there is a mention of Richard Harris who played Albus Dumbledore. I then chime in with the fact Harris was the central character in a movie about rugby league – This Sporting Life – which was filmed in part at Bellevue in West Yorkshire – the home ground of Wakefield Trinity.
Damien says they didn’t have a decent steak the whole time they were away and Parker and Evan declare that food in Australia is much better than England.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14.
Street cricket takes over our end of Samford Grove and neighbours revel in the sound of young voices and ignore the tennis balls crashing into garage doors, landing on roofs and balconies. We have a reasonable size backyard, but not quite big enough for the cricket we have in mind. Cricket follows a ‘Christmas in January’ lunch, to make up for the fact Damien and co were in France for Christmas just gone.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15
Gold Coast Titans are looking to celebrate their 20th anniversary in a number of ways and have asked me to consider being part of the compilation of the club’s history. Part owner, former News Ltd journalist, Hedley Thomas, may conduct a podcast about the club’s tumultuous times. Shaun Wane has quit as England’s rugby league coach while Scott Robinson has been sacked as All Blacks coach.
Academic Paul Williams cannot hide his disdain for the uneducated masses and the conservative side of politics in his Courier-Mail column. Today his musings present a romantic view of the success of multi-culturism in Australia. Meanwhile, above the column, cartoonist Warren Brown hits the nail on the head. Williams and leftist cartoonist, Sean Leahy have managed to avoid the elephant in the room since the Bondi massacre – hate preaching Muslim clerics in Sydney’s west.
Damien, Emma and girls’ 6.40 pm Jetstar flight to Townsville is cancelled, allegedly because of crewing dramas. So the family has to get a cab to down-market Grand Chancellor Hotel at Spring Hill to stay the night, and then get another cab back to the airport first thing the next morning. Damien has to pay and then claim the money back. What a joke. In the six months Damien and co were away they didn’t have one cancelled flight, or even a late departure, and there were quite a few internal flights in Europe. Welcome home.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16
I have been to Sydney with a Queensland journalists’ rugby league team and we flew. The Taxation Department’s Queensland team went by bus back in the 1960s. The players booked into the Coogee Bay Hotel and on the day of the match were greeted by opposition officials who shouted them a beer (or two) in the public bar before heading off to play the game at Noon. You will not be surprised to learn that Queensland was well beaten. Buses in those days did not have toilets so one innovative member of the team designed what he called a pissaroo. I won’t go into detail but let’s just say the concept was a failure and the device got the heave ho. Years later a bloke with a metal detector probably happened across the pissaroo and wondered what in hell it was. One of our neighbours at Samford Grove – Russell Platt – was a member of that side.
Celebrity chef, Alistair McLeod lives out this way and is shopping at Drakes when my wife goes there this morning. When a check-out person asks McLeod how his day is going, he replies: “Terrible” I think he was being playful, not miserable.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17
It is the seventh anniversary of the passing of our nephew, Kieran Ricketts. His parents, my brother, Jeff and Ann Ricketts (nee Murphy); their other son, Xavier and some of Kieran’s mates catch up at Twin Towns Services Club to toast his memory.
The official opening of the Australian Open Tennis Tournament takes place in Melbourne on Rod Laver Arena and the great man himself is a special guest. When Rod represented Australia in the Davis Cup there was just one flag on display. Today of course we have three, although our real flag is the only one featured on a light show as the National Anthem is sung. We must be grateful for small mercies. The Welcome to Country is sung and it is a lovely touch.
There are two dud big Bash Games today. Some of the batting is downright atrocious.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18
Katene Clarke hits a six with the last ball of the innings to get his 100 for Braves v Volts at Otago University in Dunedin. Our daughter Melanie and close friend, Cynthia Friel watch Big Bash game between Heat and Sixers from sports bar in Mooloolaba Tavern. The winner progresses to the finals, the loser is GONE. The Heat are gone.
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