Benny’s Beat, By BENNY PIKE
PROUD to be an Australian is an understatement, after the wonderful involvement in the Anzac Day celebrations.
Whether it was Noosa Beach, Mooloolaba, Currumbin, Canberra, Sydney, Auckland or the beaches of Gallipoli, the Aussie spirit stood tall.
Politics aside, Prime Minister Tony Abbott led the way with his speech: “Like every generation since, we are here on Gallipoli, because we believe that the Anzacs represented Australians at our best”.
I am sure like many of you, your Facebook was at optimum with messages from friends who were at chock-a-block morning services all over the country.
The most important aspect was the rise in attendance and especially the youth involvement, which assures the Spirit of Anzac is here to stay.
I had a couple of reasons to celebrate on the day. One was the 10th anniversary of my grandmother’s passing, at 7pm on 25 April 2005.
Joyce Baldwin was born in Eumundi, married and had two daughters while living in Kenilworth before moving to Tewantin in the early ’50s.
There she owned the boarding house named San-Elanda and lived there until a fire destroyed the building in 1957.
The site is now occupied by the Noosa Council Chambers. I took my grandmother back to the chambers when they opened their Liberty just before she died.
The area hasn’t changed that much, with neighbours Mark and Norma Horton still living next door after all these years.
My other reason to celebrate I’m sure is understandable – it was 30 years to the day that Jeff Fenech claimed his first world title.
The scene was set for national pride leading the way – Fenech robbed of Olympic glory and ready to step into the ring to battle Japan’s Satoshi Shingaki for the IBF Bantamweight Crown.
The script couldn’t been better, in front of a packed Hordern Pavilion and on free to air television for the first time in over a decade. Jeff responded and answered the ruckus crowd and put a stop to the fight, taking his first of three belts in round nine.
The Aussie battler had just started his wonderful journey that mesmerised his countrymen for years to come.
While I did enjoy a fruitful boxing career, I also enjoyed a short but exciting few years playing rugby league.
During that time I had the pleasure of representing the Sunshine Coast, and it was in 1974 I first met and played with arguably the best Coast league player Mick Plant.
If he wasn’t the best, then he certainly was the toughest, I am sure many would agree.
It was on our trips north to Bundaberg or Marybourgh that Mick first impressed.
Living in Eumundi with wife Sue and kids, the bus would stop to pick the great man up.
He would always have a TAA bag with shoes, cap and sunglasses but that was it. Mick and Sue would be extremely proud of their daughter Renae who lives in the United States and was recognised last month by the Amercian government for her work fund-raising work for local schools in her area.
Renae takes after Mick and won’t take no for an answer. Well done.
Until next time.
