The Eye of the Storm magazine - vol 19 april 2017 by Gosford Rugby League: The Eye of the Storm Magazine

the

In the of the

EYE Eye of the

WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE BACK!

Vol 19: April, 2017 A Day Trip to Blue Haven

BIGGER &

BETTER IN 2017

wit h

THOSE FOOTBALLING

OPEN GRADE HEAD TO PANTHER TERRITORY

EATHERS

The e-mag for Gosford Kariong Storm Footy Fans

To guarantee you receive all future editionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of

the Eye of the Storm, simply join the mailing list by sending an email (blank or otherwise) to eyeofthestorm@post.com

I Want My

Mummy!

Contents Vol 19: April, 2017

Page 4 Eye News 5 The Trials 15 Suli the Rooster 16, 30, 37 In The Press

17 Those Footballing Eathers 31 Sydney Roosters Coaching Clinic

38 Buy A Photo (oh go on … you know you want to!) 39 The Graduates (update) 41 White Cane ‘Photo of the Month’ 42 Open Grade 44 The Back Page

“Brazen acts of empire building, being practiced by certain junior rugby league officials, continues to undermine our game at a grassroots level.”

The new season is finally upon us and the

What tremendous news it was during mid

Gosford Kariong Storm will be well represented across the various age divisions. Trials have now been washed away, and all that’ that’s left to do is to slip in the mouth guard, strap on the headgear and charge across the road into Round 1 .

March that the Storm are to compete in this season’ season’s Open Grade competition. I must say however that The Eye was wholly under whelmed by the team’ team’s season launch held at The Settlers on Friday 24th March. Of course that may well have been due to us sending our scribe out to cover said event, on the wrong evening! Sadly our attention to detail did lack a certain polish. The notifying Facebook post (see above) was not opened in Eye HQ until the Saturday morning, (i.e. the following day) and having not noticed the date of the post, The Eye duly turned up to the Settlers at 6pm that evening; a full 24 hours after the fact (it had finished by then).

Good Luck to all our teams and let’ let’s make 2017 a fun season!

The Eye is mighty

It’ It’s time to declare, “Enough is Enough” Enough”. We need to mobilize our purple forces into building a bloody big Trump like wall to keep those Ourimbah bludgers at bay!!!

Sunday Telegraph 5-3-2017

frustrated to report that the Storm has once again endured an offoff-season of plunder, pillage and loss, at the hands of our empire building immediate neighbours. One club in particular has unashamedly ravaged our roster over a number of years now, in a cynical attempt to fast track themselves a rather hollow smattering of September bling. bling.

Wandering in with camera slung casually over a shoulder, our representative was struck by the fact that he didn’ didn’t recognize anyone familiar and was ultimately forced to spend a confused half hour chatting with a couple of well oiled Manly fans (who in no way resembled Dion or Birdy). Birdy). Quite inconsiderately, said gentlemen held no interest whatsoever in the prospects of Max or his team for the 2017 season.

Carn the Storm!

- Andrew Stark

All opinions expressed throughout this publication are derived solely from the scattered & random thoughts of the author; none of which are necessarily shared by the GKS club … nor anyone else on the planet really.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

3 WEEK

&2 1 S K E WE

TRIALS the

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

the TRIALS

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

Photo – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

Under 16s fullback Lucas Sansom pulls off a spectacular try saving tackle against Toukley.

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

Well Done Buddy Photo’s – Andrew Stark Thanks Mate

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

Suli Gosford’s Latest Rep’ Star

Our very own powerhouse, Suli Hakalo spent his weekends during March, touring the NSW countryside with the district’s Under 16 representative team. Despite initially being selected in the 20 man Matthews Cup squad, Suli was held back by the selectors who preferred that he remain with the Central Coasts’ Country Championship side. As one leading official explained, exclusively to the Eye; Eye once a lad plays in the Matthews Cup competition, he automatically becomes ineligible for the Country Championship series. Sadly the Coast couldn’t crack it for a win in their three games, which were all played away from home. Looking on the bright side however the team’s conveyance did have air con, relatively comfy seats and the views out the window were said to have been spectacular, as the young Roosters were bused to Coffs Harbour, Aberdeen and then Cessnock across successive weekends.

In The Press … Storm Resurgence by Andrew Stark

Coast Community News 6th April, 2017

The Gosford Kariong Storm pushed Toukley all the way in round one of this season’s Open Grade rugby league competition with a spirited first up performance in the wet at Berkeley Vale Oval. The Storm may not have picked up the two competition points but showed enough in the 30-16 loss to suggest that last season’s ‘easy beat’ tag has well and truly been cast aside. Led by Erina recruit Robert ‘RJ’ Warwick, who notched two tries from right centre, Gosford fought back from a 12-0 deficit to trail by just a couple with a quarter of an hour to play. Both of Warwick’s tries were set up by wiry dummy half Jordan Groom who managed to dance his way through the Hawks defence before linking with the teams bullocking number three. Gosford’s other try scorer was fullback Billy James who was unlucky not to have also finished with a double after the touch judge overruled the whistleblower on a touch and go forward pass call mid way through the opening stanza. The inclusion of seasoned playmaker Brendan Eather at half, gave the team much needed direction and with a forward pack that refused to give an inch against the hefty Toukley six, the future looks promising for Max Russell’s team as they prepare for a visit to Kanwal and a clash with the perennially strong Wyong Roos. A day earlier, Gosford’s junior teams finally managed to get onto the paddock after a series of washed out Sundays had thwarted all earlier attempts. Games from under 6s through to under 16s were held at Blue Haven Oval as the Storm lads christened their new jerseys on a warm and humid opening day of April.

Please note: this is the submitted piece in it’s entirety. The editor of the Coast Community News is responsible for the changes that ultimately appear in the newspaper.

Those Footballing

Eathers by

Andrew Stark

Photo – Andrew Stark

While travelling to and from last season’s junior semi finals, a conversation was sparked with the Gosford Under 12s coach Greg Eather that would uncover an amazing tale; a story of family dislocation, deep intrigue and of course … rugby league.

Above:

Greg Eather and his Gosford Kariong team celebrate a game winning conversion, kicked after the siren during the Under 10s semi finals of 2014.

The Eathers of the Central Coast have been found scattered in and around the local rugby league competition for many decades. Greg Eather played all his junior football with the Gosford Townies before family upheaval saw him drift away from the game, before resurfacing on the wing for the Ourimbah Magpies first grade side of the early 1980s. Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

Greg Eather began playing for the Gosford juniors while he was in first class at school. It was the late 1960s and he was aged six or seven. Sergeant Ron Stewart, a local policeman was his first coach; an imposing looking figure with a booming voice who Greg describes as a great man, and one who would hugely influence his own mentoring style, so clearly in evidence all these decades later.

“He used to pick us up; we’d turn up to games in the back of a paddy wagon” (Greg Eather)

Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

Greg’s father Ron played for Erina in the fifties, his uncle Don for Gosford and Erina during the same era; the brothers teaming up together in the Eagles pack for the 1957 first grade grand final loss to The Entrance. Greg’s son Brendan would become the third generation of the family to play top grade rugby league on the Coast when he rose through the St Edwards ranks to play first grade with Erina as a 17-year, before turning out with the Central Wyong Razorbacks five or six seasons later.

Photo – courtesy of Les Allen & the Gosford City Library

Greg was a member of the Gosford 4st 7lb team of 1970 which gained notoriety for all the right reasons. The Townie youngsters traversed the season undefeated with an enviable for and against tally of 251 to16. Sergeant Stewart’s troopers finished off their emphatic season nicely when they defeated Ourimbah 9-0 on grand final day. During rugby leagues barefoot era of the sixties and seventies, junior teams would traditionally be lined up against a fence prior to kick off from whence the coach would whip his players into a frenzy of heightened endeavour with a; “rah rah, you’re goin to win, rah rah” burst of Above: Sgt Ron Stewart screaming that back in the day, was strangely thought to be useful in helping to motivate a gaggle of wide eyed six year olds. It was a gentle precursor to what took place in the senior ranks, as Roy Masters’ famous face slapping routine with the Western Suburbs Magpies sides of the late 1970s would attest. Despite these somewhat antiquated coaching techniques, Sergeant Stewart was a fair and just man and Greg cannot remember one single instance of the coach losing his temper with the players; a fact that has resonated with him to this day.

Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

Photo – courtesy of the Central Coast Express Advocate and the State Library of NSW. Above: The champion Gosford Townies, 4st 7lb team of 1970 showing a serious looking Greg Eather, front and centre (circled)

“Kids have to come out of doing what they do in the juniors thinking, that was great.” (Greg Eather) Greg’s home life faced unconscionable upheaval during the early 1970s when on one, seemingly non-descript day, his father Ron headed off toward Queensland in search of work … and simply never returned. To this day no one in the family has any idea what became of Ron Eather. Greg has an inkling that his father may have harboured fears of being rumbled by the law over a matter no one seems to fully recall and yet he also retains a dream like recollection of an evening when Ron returned like a ghost out of the night, sporting a birthday present for one of the children.

“Once my dad took off, we were still fairly young … we didn’t just lose a father, we lost that whole side of the family.” (Greg Eather)

Above: Greg’s father & uncle, Ron & Don Eather played in the pack for Erina in the

1957 Central Coast 1st grade grand final. The Entrance won the day 20-2.

In attempting to trace the Eather family back through time, it is interesting to note that Greg’s grandfather, William Henry Eather had previously lived in the Empire Bay/ Bensville region during the 1930s before moving to East Gosford two decades later. A driver or traveller by profession, he’d moved up to the

Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

The abandoned Fay Eather and her progeny of seven would ultimately move to Empire Bay as a step father entered the children’s lives. Greg Eather would become Greg Walker for a time and during those pre Rip Bridge days, when the family had no car; the tyranny of distance brought to an abrupt halt his association with junior rugby league.

later).

When it comes to the world of rugby league, the most famous member of the family is undoubtedly, Trevor Eather. A dashing five eighth or centre, Trevor won selection from Boggabri into Australia’s 3rd Test team that played Great Britain during 1946. The following season, he and his cousin Mervyn Eather were enticed south to play in Sydney, and they both turned out for Wests. The Eather boys would only remain in the big smoke for the one season and Trevor’s final game for the Magpies was scheduled to have been the semi final against eventual premiers, Balmain.

“Eather reached the ground early, and sat on the grass in the sun. When it came time to change, he rose, tripped over the foot of a spectator and pulled a leg muscle” (The Sun 7-9-1947)

Above: Trevor Eather (circled), as a member of the Australian

rugby league team during 1946.

Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

Central Coast with his wife Margaret from Leichhardt in Sydney’s inner west following the death of his mother Sarah in 1931 (more on the mysterious Sarah

“Eather’s must have been as plentiful as rabbits before myxomatosis in Boggabri”. (Gosford Times - October 1958)

Trevor’s uncle was Arnold ‘Curley’ Eather who had been quite the sportsmen himself, having represented Tamworth, Armidale and Quirindi as a five eighth or centre while also excelling at athletics and boxing. In 1923 Curley beat Cecil Weissel, older brother of league legend, Eric Weissel, in the Tamworth Handicap sprint over 120 yards. Acclaimed as the fastest of the Weissel’s, Cecil was running off a 13 and a half yard handicap and yet Curley, starting 8 yards closer to the finish line, was able to hang on to defeat his more illustrious opponent by “inches” to claim the 80 pound prize. Curley would move down to Gosford during the 1950s to open a frock shop on the corner diagonally across from the Hotel Gosford in Mann Street. He was chided by locals at first, many describing his choice of location as bonkers, “it’s the black corner of Gosford, it’s dull and dead”, they chortled. But Curley’s shop would thrive for over two decades; becoming a genuine local landmark, its location forever more to be known as, Eather’s Corner. Eather’s Corner Photo & Advertisement – courtesy of the Gosford City Library

Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

Trevor Eather ultimately took no part in Wests controversial 27-16 loss. This 1947 mishap followed on from his unfortunate withdrawal from the NSW side to play Queensland during the preceding season after he’d injured a leg while mustering sheep at Boggabri … courtesy of his horse falling on him. Trevor and Mervyn were just two of many Eather’s playing league in the Tamworth region at this time and it is said that at one stage between the wars, the Boggabri school side had 11 Eather’s in their team.

With Curley Eather residing in Gosford and Trevor Eather playing rugby league at the highest level, The Eye went to great lengths, over a number of weeks to try and link Sarah Eather, Greg’s great grandmother, to the Boggabri strain of the family. The trail infuriatingly always seemed to peter out. That was until correspondence with Eather family historian Mark Madison revealed, quite fortuitously that he had also attempted to unlock the mystery of Sarah Eather. Mark, with the help of fellow family historian, Mildred Reynolds was able to ascertain that Sarah had in fact been born in Boggabri and despite no concrete record remaining of her birth, they deduced that her mother was, Clara Amy Eather. Sarah had given birth to Greg’s grandfather William in the Sydney Benevolent Asylum during the spring of 1900 and was listed in their records as having been single, with parents named Clara and Thomas. Sarah stated that she was pregnant by William McCarthy, a printer of Inverell. Clara Eather had in fact married Thomas Fulmer in 1876 when Sarah was three or four years of age. This sets up the unusual occurrence of the Eather surname having passed down through consecutive generations of females, with both William and his mother Sarah suffering the ignominy of having been born illegitimate. Mildred Reynolds claims that Sarah had also given birth to the strangely named Glaucus Eather in Boggabri six years prior to William’s arrival however no trace of this child appears anywhere beyond her birth.

“I believe that the Sarah Eather who gave birth to William Henry Eather in 1900 was also the mother of Glaucus in 1894. Whereas Sarah supplied inaccurate information at times to the authorities, she always stated that she had been born at Boggabri around 1873/74.” (Mildred Reynolds -Family Historian) Above Photo – courtesy of the State Library of NSW

Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

Left:

The Sydney Benevolent Asylum, where William Eather was born during the spring of 1900.

Above:

Greg Eather’s great great great great uncle Jimmy.

Winding down through the Eather family tree one is struck by the disproportionate amount of adversity and misfortune that befell so many members of the clan. The Eather name will forever be associated with tragedy in the Hawkesbury region following the 1867 floods which claimed the lives of Emma and Catherine Eather along with ten of their children. Desperately clinging to the roof of a farmhouse they were ultimately washed away with only their husband’s; William, his brother Thomas, along with Thomas’s 16-year-old son Charles, managing to survive. In a

further grizzly twist, William would lose his life many decades later when he Right: was fearfully mutilated by a The Eather family memorial on steam train having attempted Cornwallis Road at Windsor which to cross the railway tracks marks the tragic at Rockdale. events of 1867.

Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

The origins of the Eather family in NSW can be traced back to Thomas Heather (1764-1827) and his wife Elizabeth Lee (1771-1840) who both hailed from Kent in England. It’s not known why Thomas decided to drop the ‘H’ off his surname, however it is known that he arrived as a convict with the second fleet in 1790, married Elizabeth Lee the following year, and the couple set about creating a whole new, southern hemisphere lineage. Thomas Heather had originally been sentenced to death in England for bailing up a gentleman named George Cotton, from whom he stole a gold watch and 50 shillings. This sentence however was later downgraded to 14 years along with transportation to the colony. Thomas and Elizabeth settled in the Windsor region and it is two of their sons, Thomas Junior and James who provide us with an early nineteenth century conduit that will ultimately tie Greg Eather to both; the Gosford frock shop proprietor Curley, and the Australian rugby league rep’, Trevor. The connection is somewhat long winded and there has to be a neater way of describing it, however in essence, James Eather’s great great grandson was Trevor Eather, while our own Greg Eather is Thomas Junior’s great great great great grandson. Trevor Eather was Arnold Curley Eather’s nephew: his father Ormonde being Curley’s older brother. So Greg’s 4x Grandfather was the brother of Trevor’s 2x Grandfather (if that makes it any easier).

“Jerry Eather, the ex Glen Innes player, provided the sensation of the game when he gathered the ball just prior to the final whistle and after a fine run scored between the posts for Tingha. He then kicked a goal, thus adding five points in the last minute and giving his side a victory by one point.” (Glen Innes Examiner, 21-8-1934)

Roy Eather was another prominent League man who along with his younger brother Reg played for Singleton in the Newcastle competition just after the First World War. Roy represented the Hunter district at the Country Week carnival in Sydney during the winter of 1924 and he subsequently moved south to run the general store at Davistown. Roy Eather also became the leading referee on the Central Coast during the mid 1930s. Back in the pre rugby league days of the late nineteenth century there are many Eather’s to be found playing rugby for the Windsor and Richmond Football Clubs, while a Charles Eather is noted as having been a prominent member of the Campbelltown City team of 1913. Arthur & Les Eather were leading figures at the Moree Magpies rugby league club during the 1920s having both played for Windsor prior to the war.

Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

While life was often prickly, rugby league became the natural sport for the Eather men to pursue. From Trevor representing his country and Mervyn playing for Cessnock and then Wests in Sydney, through to Ronald, Greg and Brendan playing first grade on the Coast, there are many examples of Eather’s having excelled at our sport . Oscar Vivian Eather, better known throughout the New England district as Jerry, was a star fullback for the East Glen Innes teams of the 1920s and Tingha in the 1930s, before he interestingly retired to Ettalong Beach during the early 1970s.

Those Footballing Eathers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

Above: Greg Eather lines up on the wing for Ourimbah against the mighty

Gosford Townies during late May of 1981.

The 1980 Central Coast competition became a peninsula heavy affair with the defending premiers Woy Woy managing to ward off the challenge of their southern rivals, Umina to win the grand final 18-6. The competition that year included many big names across the top five or six clubs, most notably; Greg Bandiera (Wyong), Perry Haddock, Ian Mackay & Paul Melross (Erina), Max Wilkie & Kevin Neil (Gosford), Steve McKenzie & Billy Monie (Woy Woy), and Mick Luibinskas, Noel Maybury & Les Mara (Umina). Greg Eather found himself playing on the wing for the Ourimbah first grade team during the early seasons of the 1980s; an era which coincided a time of struggle for the Magpies. The Bob Allen coached side tasted just the single victory during 1980, a 14-8 win over the second last placed Entrance Tigers at Bateau Bay during mid season.

Left:

The St Edwards U12s team of 2000, with coach Greg Eather and his son, Brendan circled.

A decade and a half beyond pulling on the black & white jersey, Greg would begin coaching at St Edwards before ultimately arriving at the Storm. His sons; Shannon, Ronnie, Tim and Brendan, were all Saints juniors and their names are to be found scattered among the clubs award winners throughout the 1993-2003 period. Tim was the St Edwards Junior Player of the Year in 1996, Ronnie the U15s Player of the Year in 1999, while Brendan walked away with the Senior Player of the Year Award for 2003. Greg and his wife Julie also got in on the act by each claiming the prestigious, Saint of the Year gong; Julie in 1999 and Greg four seasons later. Greg Eather was also awarded the Coach of the Year in 2000 for his work with the U12(2)s. St Edwards were a far stronger club back in those

Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

Greg admits to having been on the diminutive side of not very big during his time on the Magpies flank and in his self effacing way, relays an amusing tale of the day he tried to tackle star Eagles lock Paul Melross. During a somewhat lopsided game at Sohier Oval, the bustling NSW Country rep’ made one of his trademark breaks up centre field, beginning from deep inside his own half, when our favourite Ourimbah winger dutifully angled across in cover; catching up to the runaway back rower just as he galloped across halfway. Much to the amusement of the crowd, Greg then proceeded to jump onto Melross’ back, in the guise of making a ball and all tackle, and was duly carried thirty yards down field like a hoop atop the favourite at Randwick. The Eagles juggernaut finally had the good grace to topple over; hitting the ground deep inside the Magpies quarter, ultimately succumbing to what all onlookers agreed, once they’d stopped chortling, was a spirited, try saving tackle.

Photo – Andrew Stark Above Left: Tim Eather receiving life membership of the Gosford Tigers Aussie Rules club during 2016. Above Right: Brendan Eather on the charge for the

Gosford Kariong Open Grade team in 2014.

While Greg’s current team, the Storm’s Under 13(2)s, has endured the great frustration of falling one week shy of a grand final appearance for three consecutive seasons, the coach remains wholly focused on the bigger picture.

“With my side, it’s all about them becoming a group before I ever care about a victory; if we get some victories, great. It’s not about winning the premiership now, I want to build something. In the Under 16s first division they’re going to take out that title. That’s what I want. I want a small club, having this team that we’ve built, not that we’ve poached players from everywhere, go on and take out the title. I know we can match it with anyone, on any given day.” (Greg Eather)

Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

days, a case in point being the team’s in which Tim Eather played with; teams that featured future NRL stars James Maloney and Aidan Kirk as well as recent Ourimbah first grade skipper, Chris Trembath.

Eather’s Gosford Kariong Under 12s team of 2016 Below: Coach Eather delivers his halftime speech during last season’s semi final win over Warnervale.

Photo – courtesy of Carley Logan

Right: Greg

Photo – Andrew Stark

As a young boy living in Lynette Crescent at Springfield during the years prior to losing his father, Greg’s family, just like the Eather’s of Windsor, Boggabri and Singleton before them, would all come together over a game of backyard footy.

“Down the back there’s this big gully and the old man and his brothers used to cut down a couple of trees and make some goalposts and we’d have games of football with all the rello’s down the back there … they were some of the best times I’ve ever had.” (Greg Eather) Those Footballing Eathers © Andrew Stark 2017

Those Footballing Eathers – The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

As it stands, Greg Eather’s story is neatly book ended by a keen involvement with Gosford rugby league. From travelling to games in the back of a paddy wagon during 1970 to plotting glory at the Central Coast Stadium exactly fifty years hence.

In The Press … Eleventh Hour Storm Rise from the Ashes by Andrew Stark

Coast Community News 23rd March, 2017

The Gosford Kariong Rugby League Club has been buoyed by last minute news that their Open Grade team will be accepted into this season’s third tier competition. The Storm’s senior squad have been in training for months now, despite not knowing whether or not they would be accommodated within the draw. Belated notification arrived just two and a half weeks prior to the kick off following an eleventh hour opening provided by the withdrawal of last season’s premiers Berkeley Vale from the 2017 competition. Tireless work from Storm captain Max Russell has managed to help negotiate a path through into this years draw for a Gosford Kariong side hell bent on righting the wrongs of last winter.

Recent wet weather forced the Storm to cancel their scheduled opening round of junior trial games, which were due to have been played against the Berowra Wallabies. An Open Grade trial was also scheduled to have been played against The Entrance however this was also washed out as grounds right across the Coast fell victim to large pools of surface water and the dreaded, “Oval Closed” sign.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

A ramshackle arrangement was forged between Gosford and Terrigal last season which saw the hybrid outfit finish a miserable year both winless and at the tail of the field. In the stormy months that followed the end of the 2016 season, the Central Coast Rugby League slammed the door on Gosford’s involvement; informing the Storm that their would be no place at the Open Grade table for the Narara based club in 2017. This ruthless approach taken by the games governing body provided a continuation of the leagues post 2011 policy which has seen a blanket aversion shown toward any of the smaller clubs who dare to aspire to rise through the senior ranks. The late withdrawal of the Panthers from this season’s draw however has earned Gosford a reprieve; the Storm men being allowed back into the competition to effectively even up the number of teams and therefore avoid the need for a weekly bye. Gosford Kariong’s opening game of the season will kick off against the Toukley Hawks at Berkeley Vale Oval on Sunday April 2nd and the Storm are hell-bent on proving that their worth stretches beyond simply making up the numbers.

Please note: this is the submitted piece in it’s entirety. The editor of the Coast Community News is responsible for the changes that ultimately appear in the newspaper.

Sydney Roosters Coaching Clinic

Photo’s – Andrew Stark

A fun afternoon was had by

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

all, when a host of young Stormers headed down to the Central Coast Leagues Club Field during late March, to be run through their paces by Sydney Roosters; Anthony Minichiello, Minichiello, Johnny TuivasaTuivasaSheck and Eloni Vunakece. Mini

Johnny

Eloni

Sydney Roosters Coaching Clinic

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017 – PHOTOS – ANDREW STARK.

Sydney Roosters Coaching Clinic

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017 – PHOTOS – ANDREW STARK.

Kirra sprints away from Roosters star Eloni Vunakece in the 50m dash.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017 – PHOTOS – ANDREW STARK.

Sydney Roosters Coaching Clinic

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017 – PHOTOS – ANDREW STARK.

In The Press …

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

Gosford Kariong Wrap Up Season 2016 by Andrew Stark

Coast Community News 3rd November, 2016

The Gosford Kariong rugby league club concluded their 2016 season with a breezy presentation afternoon followed by an annual general meeting that heralded in considerable change. An exciting array of new administrators swept to office during the Storm’s AGM, as chief recipients; Mr Dion Findlay (president), Mrs Vanessa Bird (senior vice president), Mr Graham Taylor (junior vice president) and Mrs Kellie Hodge (treasurer) joined long term secretary Mrs Renee Martin on an updated Gosford Kariong Board. The Central Coast Leagues Club had earlier played host to the Gosford Kariong awards ceremony when a large crowd packed into the Parkview Room, which was festooned with purple, gold and blue balloons to mark the gala occasion. Club secretary, Mrs Renee Martin was in fine form as she oversaw proceedings: a huge table weighed down by trophies, slowly cleared amidst an hour and a half of warm applause. Eleven season Storm veteran and Under 16s representative back rower, Logan Campbell was the big winner of the day when he claimed both the Presidents Player Award, as well as the Cameron Delehunt Memorial Award as Senior Player of the Year. The latter trophy named in honour of former Gosford player, Cameron Delehunt who was a previous winner of this award and who so tragically lost his life during late 2015. Talented Under 12s prop forward and general helper around the club, Jake Sutherland was a most worthy recipient of the Junior Player of the Year Award. The ever cheerful Mrs Cathy Habkouk claimed the Manager of the Year Award for her tireless work with the Under 16s; a result that broke the stranglehold on this award held by Mrs Samantha Taylor and Mrs Vanessa Bird dating back to the 2012 season. Mr Andrew Stark walked away with the Clint Gosper Memorial Award as Club Person of the Year, while the young tyros from the Under 8s and Under 9s were up on stage as joint winners of the Mini Team of the Year Award. The Coach of the Year Award went to club stalwart and former President, Mr Ed Johnson who was in charge of three sides during the season; the Under 8s, Under 9s and Open Grade. Quite amazingly, Mr Johnson first won this award in the spring of 1981; back when footballs were brown, scrums were fair dinkum and the Gosford footy club were known far and wide as, the Townies. His remarkable achievement of claiming the same award, three and a half decades apart, must surely rank as unique amongst sporting clubs across the nation. Please note: this is the submitted piece in it’s entirety. The editor of the Coast Community News is responsible for the changes that ultimately appear in the newspaper.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

SoHow HowDo DoWe WeGet GetAAPhoto PhotoFor ForUncle UncleDon Bill & Aunt Hillary Fiona ?? So Whilst the motivation for putting The Eye together each month is in no way financial, It would be good to recoup all those bus & train fares; public transport levies accrued chugging to and from the myriad of footy ovals scattered across the CCJRL region. So to keep Red Bus, Busways and even State Rail happy, all the photo’s appearing on the pages of this fine, up standing publication … come and are available for purchase in all their high resolution JPEG slip me $10 magnificence for just $10 (via Paypal, cheque, money order, Dan on game day Murphy’s gift card, gold bullion, krugerand, or my personal … I’ll be the favourite; good old CA$H). Email me (Andrew) at 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com and let me know which image you’re after bleary eyed, disheveled … or simply grab me on the sideline and let me know in person. looking bloke with the dodgy Jolly well haircut … played

Gosford

oh yeah, and the big camera !

Buy one $10 photo & get a bunch of others free

the

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

Graduates by Andrew Stark

…from Gosford to the Big Time

Upd

ate

by Andrew Stark

OK, so The Eye stuffed up!

WHOOPS!!!

Les Bell needs to be Sitting in a Morisset kitchenette removed from our list recently, chatting to a lovely lady named Ilma, who’d grown up in William Street, Gosford during the 1930s, gave rise to our absolute howler. Sudden realization that we’d made a hefty boo boo back in the July edition of 2015 in the Gosford Graduates series; where we attempt to identify all of the Gosford juniors who have kicked on to play first st - Our Sydney 1 Graders grade footy in Sydney. We had boldly listed our own Les Bell as Charlie ‘Mad Otter’ Staunton (Norths 1923) Lester Hough (Norths 1940) having turned out for both Souths Walter ‘Finny’ Worrad (Norths 1940) & Parramatta during the 1940s. Edward ‘Ted’ McHugh (St George 1942-44) Les Bell (Souths 1943-46, Parramatta 1947-49) Alan Staunton (St George 1952-54) Barry Willis (Balmain 1953-54, 1956) Ron Thornton (Canterbury 1955-61) Col ‘Bubbles’ Purcell (Easts 1957) Bev Smith (Balmain 1959) Ron Hansen (Newtown 1960 – 65) John Floyd (Norths 1965) Rod Urquhart (Cronulla 1970–71, Souths 1973–74) Max Wilkie (Norths 1981-83) Daryl Turner (Wests 1984) Paul Kent (Parramatta 1989) Adam McEwen (Souths 1995-97) Anthony Brann (Balmain 1996, Hunter 1997, Canberra 1998-2000) John Carlaw (Hunter 1997, Melbourne 1998, Balmain 1999, Wests Tigers 2000-01, NZ Warriors 2002-03, St George 2004) Wes Tillott (Norths 1999, Souths 2004) Matt Orford (Northern Eagles 2000, Melbourne 2001- 05, Manly 2006-09, Canberra 2011) Rhys Pritchard (Sydney Roosters 2011)

I guess it was about two hours into my chat with Les' sister, Ilma when it finally dawned … You see, it turns out that our Les Bell was actually busy driving a crane down in Victoria when some other guy named Les Bell was running around with the Rabbitohs. Then there was this third Les Bell, who was a Cabramatta junior and went by the nickname of 'Bertie'. Well when ‘Bertie’ was kicking goals for Parramatta during that club’s inaugural year in the big league, our Les Bell was into his early thirties and living at Cornwallis near Windsor on the Hawkesbury...

If you think you know of a Gosford Junior who went on to play 1st Grade rugby league in the Sydney competition (NSWRL or NRL), who isn’t already on the list … please drop me a line at 10dollarjpegs@gmx.com

Our Les Bell, the original and clearly the best, was born in Moree during the First World War years and his family moved to Gosford when he was an infant. A standout player while at the High School, Les quickly made his mark in the senior ranks and played for Gosford throughout much of the 1930s. He captained the town’s champion 1938 team and was one of the first picked in District rep’ sides . Like ‘Bertie’ Bell of Paramatta fame, our Les Bell was a talented goal kicking five eighth. At one stage late in the decade, Les left Gosford to play a brief stint with Woy Woy. His father Tom Bell was president of the Gosford cricket club for a period and Les was equally handy with willow in hand; as an 18 year old he was once left stranded on 99 not out while playing for the Gosford Post Office against Saratoga. Les Bell would later become one of Australia's best lawn bowlers and won the NSW singles title twice during the 1960s.

Above: Gosford’s Les Bell Left: Les receives notification of his selection in the Rep’ side to play Newcastle (late 1930s).

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE -April, 2017.

Now given that I’d already done 17 hours worth of research into the Les Bell story without ever having twigged to the fact that their were multiple personalities at play … the realization came as quite a surprise. My word, didn't Ilma and I laugh and slap each others thighs when the penny finally dropped. I’ll admit that I also took the opportunity to jam a nearby dessert fork into the back of my hand by way of an impromptu act of self chastisement.

Photo of the Month The Eye is pleased to welcome our latest corporate partner, White Cane Photography who will be supplying our ‘Photo of the Month’ throughout the 2017 season.

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE April, 2017

Proudly sponsored by

White Cane Photography For all your blurry, half missed imaging needs 3/93 Victoria St, East Gosford, 2250

St Edwards 72 Gosford 0

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

Toukley 30 Gosford 16 Round One We might not have picked up the competition points last Sunday, but didn’t we show a ton of promise! Given that application to this year’s competition was only accepted at the eleventh hour and that our one and only organized trial was washed out; the 30-16 loss to the Hawks contained many more positives than it did negatives. Trailing 12-0 early, Gosford fought back to be within just a couple midway through the second half. Barnstorming centre RJ Warwick starred on the right edge and nabbed a brace of tries, including a spectacular 80 metre effort which was set up by a typically weaving Jordan Groom run out of dummy half. Coach Max Russell was particularly pleased with the first up effort shown by his team and if the Storm men continue to play for each other throughout the year, as they did against Toukley, then a host of victories will surely flow. Opening round player points went: 3 to RJ Warwick, 2 to halfback Brendan Eather and 1 to back rower Travis Mantell. This week we travel up to Morry Breen to do battle with the Wyong Roos in what will undoubtedly be a stern test, yet one we are more than capable of winning. ‘Upset of the season’ certainly does have a nice ring to it. So let’s go get em boys! (- The Eye -).

The EYE OF THE STORM MAGAZINE – April, 2017.

St Edwards 72 Gosford 0

Wyong 48 Gosford 0 Round Two Last Sunday always threatened to turn sour from the moment the Morry Breen scoreboard decided to shun a hundred years of proud Gosford rugby league history by listing us as, ‘Kariong’. And sour certainly did become the overriding taste of the afternoon, as the athletic and physically superior Roos ran in nine tries to shut us out 48-0 in balmy Kanwal conditions. In an often irritable clash, the Storm conceded a try in the opening set of the game and trailed by twenty at the break. Plenty of effort was put in, but dropped ball and missed tackles killed off our challenge. Tearaway back rower Travis Mantell toiled manfully throughout, while Jordan Groom was heavily involved from five eighth. This weekend we travel to Sohier Park to take on our old rivals, Ourimbah (the Morry Breen crew might know them better as, ‘Wyoming’). A victory over anyone would be great just at the moment however an Easter Saturday win over the Magpies; now that would be extra special. Go get em Gossy! (- The Eye -). A big thank you to our sponsors; The Settlers Tavern - West Gosford, Coastal Waters Painting, Robson Civil Projects, James M Ryan Chartered Accountant, Central Coast Tennis Academy, Bendigo Bank - East Gosford & Lisarow, Neopost, Central Coast Leagues Club, Riverside Dental Spa, & Just Cuts - Tuggerah.

FIGHTING CRIME GOSFORD STYLE The Eye of the Storm MAGAZINE – APRIL 2017

Photo – courtesy of the Central Coast Express Advocate

the Back Page

Former Gosford Kariong Storm President, Dave Brown was hailed as a “brave resident” during late October after he’d hurled a rock at a stolen car after it had run down a police officer in suburban Wyoming. In scenes more befitting a less salubrious neighborhood, Dave attempted to stop the rogue Mitsubishi Magna himself, while others ran to help the bleeding highway patrolman. The quick thinking GKS life member, scooped up a sizeable lump of sandstone and let fly with a trusty right arm …

“I threw a rock at the car and hit it. It hit the side of the drivers door” Despite Dave’s direct hit, the bad guys got away.

(They were however nabbed, badly shaken, a few days later).