HARPO ’ s MARKS
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Indulge me !
Woke from a dream in the early hours one recent morning and thought – “ what was that all about ”.
The memory of the dream had mostly already faded but what I did remember was having someone taking a selfie with me . “ Strange one , that !” I whispered to myself .
But then I started thinking about selfies and just didn ’ t get back to bye-byes for ages .
Thinking about the many , many lost opportunities I had down the 55 years since joining the Grand Order of Scribbling Editorial Society ( GOOSES ).
Of course , throughout much of my career I lived in an age in which there were no mobile phones with which to easily take a snap .
And , lemme tells ya , if mobile phones were on hand back in those days , there were a host of occasions in which a number of high-profile sporting figures would be shaking in their boots today , hoping the happy snaps would never see the light of day .
But I won ’ t go there , because yours truly would be with them !
Anyways , I got to thinking about the great and famous whom I have become friends , acquaintances , met or were interviewed by me – with nary a photo to show for us crossing paths .
However , there was one occasion when I was snapped with two of the most famous men in the world at the time .
T ’ was Sunday , October 4 , 1981 , at Paris ’ famous racecourse , Longchamp , and the occasion was the 60th running of the famous Prix de l ’ Arc de Triomphe .
I was there with two of my late , great friends , John Scott and his lovely wife , Coralie .
Prior to an earlier race on the program , the three of us ambled to the rear of the grandstand to watch the horses ’ parade before going out onto the track .
I spied Egyptian acting idol , Omar Sharif , chatting with His Highness , renowned racehorse owner and breeder , the Aga Khan IV , then one of the richest men in the world .
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Coralie had a camera , and I told Scotty to grab it and get over close to the famous pair .
With that I surreptitiously snuck over behind the two men who were standing about two metres apart , watching the neddies parade .
I waved to Scotty , I quickly walked over and stood between them , said hello to Omar and at that moment Scotty took the photo .
Not in the photo is Omar – we were on first name terms by then – looking at me , frowning and turning to watch me stride quickly away .
That photo was one of my prized possessions for years and I had much delight in producing it and showing off to friends , acquaintances and passers-by .
Sadly , in one of my relocations during my GOOSE career down the east coast of Australia , the photo went AWOL and has not reported back since . Well , back to selfies ! During my first week as a copyboy on the sadly departed Daily Mirror ( for younger readers , it was the state ’ s afternoon newspaper until dying in 1990 ), I could have kicked off my selfie campaign in style .
Working at the rag were rugby league greats Ken Irvine and Bernie Purcell , racing guru Ken Callander , chief rugby league writer and future boxing promoter and Australian Boxing Hall of Fame member , Bill Mordey .
Two rugby league legends came into the office on my third day at work , Rabbitohs greats , Ron Coote and John Sattler .
Since then , umpteen famous sporting identities had the opportunity to have their photos taken alongside your little mute mate .
Naming them all would take up this page but here ’ s a small list of the rich ( and many not-so-rich ) and famous folk whom I ’ ve had the pleasure of getting to know . Horse racing : Tommy Smith , Bart Cummings , Peter Cook , George Moore , Athol Mulley and a host of others .
Rugby League : A zillion players but special mention of Jack Gibson , nine
of the 13 Immortals – Churchill , Fulton , Gasnier , Raper , Langlands , Beetson , Johns , Meninga and Provan – as well as all the Panthers ’ 1991 premiership side , Great Britain legends Vince Karalius , Alex Murphy and Bill Ashurst , Kevin Ryan and special mention of Mick Cronin .
Rugby Union : Mark Ella , Ken Catchpole , John Thornett , Sir Nick Shehadie and Bob Dwyer , Peer “ Fab ” Fenton . Soccer : Graham Arnold , Atti Abonyi . Cricket : Alan Davidson , Norm O ’ Neill ,
Doug Walters , Richie Benaud , Keith Miller . Athletics : Betty Cuthbert , Marjorie Jackson , Maureen Caird , the inspirational Peter Norman .
Swimming : Dawn Fraser , Michael
Wenden , Ian Thorpe . Tennis : Evonne Goolagong . Rowing : Stuart McKenzie . Snooker : “ Whispering ” Ted Lowe , Eddie
Charlton , “ Hurricane ” Alex Higgins . Boxing : Johnny Lewis , Jeff Fenech , Joe Bugner , Kostya Tszyu , Jeff Harding , Vic Patrick , Tommy Burns ( Geoff Murphy ), Wally Carr , Charkey Ramon , Ken Salisbury , Ray Mitchell , Ray “ Lord of the Ring ) Connelly .
Show business : Burt Bacharach , Bryan Brown , Col Joye , Chubby Checker , Steve Bisley .
Known to police / colourful racing identities : George Freeman , Perc Galea , Lenny McPherson , Neddy Smith .
Journalism : Too many mates in the industry to single out . I could go on , but that ’ ll pull me up . Anyone out there with a time machine ?
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When I showed the previous item to Mrs Harpo , she told me that younger readers wouldn ’ t know most of the names I mentioned .
“ May I remind you , me sweet , that from an early age I had known of many people who were before my time ,” I replied .
“ To name but a few - Julius Caesar , Alexander the Great , Galileo , George Bernard Shaw , Jim Thorpe , Charles Kingsford-Smith , Les Darcy , Young Griffo , Joe Louis , Babe Ruth , Ben Hogan – I could go on and on ,” I replied . “ Yes , but ,” she spluttered . “ But me no buts ,” I said , and opened one of my history books .
LOW MARKS : This frenzy which erupts whenever a player scores a try in the NRL . You would have thought the scorer had discovered a cure for cancer such are his team-mates ’ reactions . Blokes pouring in and laying on the try scorer . Someone is going to get badly hurt one of these days . SAD MARKS : The passing of rugby league legend , John Sattler . I ’ ve known the man for 55 years . Great footballer , even greater man . So sad , so very sad .
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FANCY MAN took everyone ’ s fancy with an easy hit-out when close-up fourth in 1200m trial at W ’ Farm on March 17 . New import into the Annabel Neasham stable and certainly indicates he has plenty of ability .
DUKE DE SESSA is another English import now with the Maher- Eustace stable . Showed good toe and never knocked about down the running to win 1200m W ’ Farm trial on April 17 . This bloke has terrific form against top company back in Ireland . STRUFF indicated he had the right stuff when finishing powerfully from just off the pace to win 294m trial at W ’ Farm on March 17 . Lightly raced filly out of the Richard Collett yard and ready to open winning account .
WALLENDA is an unraced Trapeze Artist 2YO colt out of the allconquering Maher-Eustace stable . Showed abundant speed and never out under any pressure when close 2nd in 797m trial at W ’ Farm on March 17 .
JOJO WAS A MAN showed he was reach to rock ‘ n ’ roll when he next sports silks by finishing strongly to win 1250m trial in smart time at H ’ bury on Mar 20 .
ALTIVO is unbeaten in two outings , posting impressive wins in both runs last spring . Was never let go at any stage when solid finishing fifth in 1000m trial at H ’ bury on March 20 .
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BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 25 // APRIL 2023 29