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HARPO’s MARKS
As any reader of this column is
aware, I grew up in Rose Bay by the
Creek – Riverstone – and donned
the maroon and gold jersey of the
Riverstone Rugby League Football
Club from under 14’s through to A
Grade.
I spent my formative years
freezing my butt off living at
Blackheath and then Katoomba but
my family, parents Midge and Neville
finally saw the light and moved to
God’s Own in late 1963 with their
children – me, brothers, Terry and
Ray and sisters Michelle, Brenda and
Debra.
The Butchers, as they were called
then, helped immensely in the Martins
quickly becoming part and parcel of
the community.
Terry, a year older than my 13
years, and I started playing in the
Butchers’ juniors on Saturdays and
mum and dad, the girls and young
“Monkey” (those ears!) sat on the
sidelines and cheered us week after
week.
Mum and dad became long-time,
hard-working servants of the club –
mum loved working in the canteen
- Ray of course pulled on a Butchers
jumper when he turned five or six and
my sisters continued to yell “Rivo,
Rivo, Rivo” season after season.
And by the way, Terry and Ray
were pretty handy footballers and I
was of course a try-scoring champion
but the best footballer in the family
was Michelle, four years my junior.
When we were playing in the 17’s
and 19s, a group of us would play
pick-up games of tackle footy a few
afternoons a week in our large side
yard in Church Street.
Michelle, who was just about
always the first picked, was fleet of
foot, could swerve, fend and step,
tackle hard and tore into the defence
like a locomotive.
If she had been a bloke, ‘chelle
would have been a champion!
Terry, Ray and I always look back
on our days as Butchers with pride
and fondness.
The three of us will be joining a
few hundred other old and not-soold players, officials and supporters
to participate in the Riverstone
Razorbacks (nee Butchers) 100 year
celebrations at Riverstone Bowling
Club on Saturday, September 12.
Tickets to the centenary
celebrations cost $50 and you
can book by going to www.
riverstonerazorbacks.com and
following the link.
This is sure to be a strongly
attended event and you are well
advised to get in early with your
booking – RSVP by August 29.
Aaah, mum and dad would love to
be there.
I’ve been chafing at the bit to
write for few weeks now to write
about the so-called Fight of the
Century. Fight of the Century my
Tijuana Brass!
I reckon the Floyd MayweatherManny Pacquiao bore-a-thon last
month wasn’t even the best fight on
the night!
Both men possess admirable
records in the square ring but from
what I saw of them, they are certainly
not fighting in a golden era of boxing.
Pacquiao has built up a long list of
knock-out victories during his car