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If you lived in Brisbane in the 1970s and early 1980s, chances are names like Campbell ‘Zulu’ Dews, Ian ‘Bunny’ Pearce, ‘Big Al’ McInnes and Noel ‘Chips’ Harrington might still mean something to you.
These men were real weekend warriors, working class rugby league players in the golden era of suburban, tribal, Brisbane club rugby league – a time before the Broncos.
And it isn’t just the players whose names are likely to bring back happy memories of that time. If you were ever at a Valleys game in those years, the name ‘Happy Jack’ would no doubt bring a smile to your face as you recall the antics of the Diehards’ number one supporter.
There was something special about the Brisbane competition back then. Crowds flocked to see local derbies like Norths versus Valleys and the battle of the baysiders, Wynnum and Redcliffe. Fans would get to the grounds early and watch all three grades. Kids would roam the fields at half and full-time of each match, playing intense scratch matches against all comers, often with empty coke cans if enough footballs weren’t around.
Sadly, Redcliffe’s Bunny Pearce and Brothers’ Chips Harrington are no longer with us, and nor are senior clubs like Valleys and Brothers – two that had very proud histories. Valleys were based in the unfortunately named Bogan Street, though that didn’t mean anything back then.
What was their home ground is now unrecognisable as Allan Border Field. At least sport is still being played on that hallowed turf I suppose.
Corbett Park at the Grange where Brothers thrilled their supporters for decades is now just a mass of residential townhouses, though the clubhouse did survive.
After Brothers’ financial demise it temporarily became the ill-fated South Queensland Crushers premises. It is now known as the Brothers Grange Community Sports Club, its proud rugby league history and connection probably lost on those under the age of 40.
Happy Jack is long gone too. An old man who brought a smile to many people’s faces died alone in 1999. His body lay unidentified in a Brisbane morgue for several months before being claimed by some ex-Valleys players, who organised a belated funeral and burial. Around 120 people attended Happy Jack’s funeral, including Wally Lewis.
But these are just my memories. What characters have I missed from the golden era of Brisbane rugby league?
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