This was a 1,486km drive where no podcasts, no Spotify playlists, no other music was required.
I do not recall us even listening to the ABC news at any point in time either.
Harms and Hansen, two Queenslanders now living in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, on tour to the Victorian capital for an Almanac Origin Lunch, followed by Game 2 of the 2026 State of Origin series on the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Conversation topics were varied, and often returned to: the Darling Downs (that’s in Queensland) the Lutheran Church: in both Queensland and South Australia, St Peters Lutheran College (Indooroopilly, Brisbane), Redeemer Lutheran College (Rochdale, Brisbane), Concordia Lutheran College (Toowoomba, Queensland), Luther Seminary (formerly North Adelaide), Lutheran Teachers College (formerly North Adelaide), Immanuel College (Adelaide) and, occasionally, Faith Lutheran College (Tanunda), where John’s daughters are students.
As well as: the University of Queensland, rugby league, athletics, the ABC, and various writers and broadcasters.
Of course, many of the personalities and larger than life figures in those Lutheran Colleges are the same people who shaped both John’s and my lives.
JTH and I met at St Peters Lutheran College, Indooroopilly in the early 1990s. For me, St Peters Lutheran College is a very special place. My parents both attended St Peters as boarders. Several cousins also boarded there, from Redcliffe. Both of my father’s sisters, my aunts, now living at Hervey Bay, taught music there. I was blessed to teach there for seventeen years.
Faith Lutheran College Tanunda was the first school I worked at when Heidi and I moved south at the beginning of 2023. I taught John’s son Theo that year.
One of the many laughs John and I had across the eighteen hours of driving was to refer to a Theo Harms quote from that year, as a Year 10 student in 2023:
Theo Harms to his father: “Dad, Mr Hansen speaks like you do!”
Given the paths John and I have both walked, Theo’s observation was possibly not a major surprise!
The drive from the Barossa Valley to Melbourne was another entry into my new experiences file.
The drive over on Tuesday afternoon-evening was wet, as one could expect at this time of the year, in this part of the world.
An afternoon tea break at the famous Keith Bakery was certainly a warming highlight. Our hosts were happy to see us! The soup of the day (pumpkin) was excellent, as was the warm (long) bread roll.
We eventually arrived in the sporting capital of Australia around 10pm, with John bunking down at University of Melbourne Graduate House, while I was about twenty minutes away with Heidi’s cousin’s family in Fairfield, a couple of bottles of a Barossa favourite, Langmeil Cabernet Sauvignon, as thanks for the room.
Game day was highly anticipated, with very good reason.
The Almanac lunch at the historic All Nations Hotel in Richmond, with the razor-sharp Roy Masters to speak, then the game.
As I walked from Carl and Julie’s to the train, a few hundred metres from the station, I was lured into Fairfield Books. Almanac contributor Barry Nicholls’ book ‘Second Innings’ was on the shelf. On cricket, men, and mental health. Purchased.
Even the short train trip from Fairfield to West Richmond built the anticipation. John had Prop by the Sea and myself lined up as the introductory speakers for the lunch. I was texting my brother (back in Kingaroy) as well as looking up the 1987 Origin series on the excellent Rugby League Project site.
We (my Dad, brother and myself) attended both games one and three that series. The famous, scoreless second half decider at the old Lang Park. Half time: Queensland 10 – New South Wales 8, full time, Queensland 10 – New South Wales 8.
The Rugby League Project site reminded me that the tough South Sydney backrower David Boyle scored a rare Origin try for the Blues that night.
My notes for the JTH interview were prepared.
The All Nations Hotel: what a tremendous venue, very welcoming, Elderton Barossa Valley Shiraz on the wine list.
I was up first for a Queensland Origin perspective with the MC John Harms.
We spoke about Origin back in the 1980s, as a young lad from the country. Kingaroy 4610. Chris Close, from just up the road (Murgon) as part of those early Queensland teams. John steered the chat to athletics and athletics coaching. Lachie Kennedy, to then the young lad from country South Australia (Stockport, now Kapunda) who is off to the world U/20 championships in August in the 4x100m relay team. Lachie ran first leg in the Australian 4x100m team in the 2022 world U/20 championships. ‘Dips’ chimed in with a wise comment regarding the young gun middle distance runner Cam Myers. Wise call, Dips.
The Prop, Matt O’Hanlon, needs to record his life in rugby league on a series of podcast interviews. I would happily steer the conversations. The volume of material, the variety of experiences, Rockhampton, Brisbane, and many places in between.
Prop entertained us, he is rugby league through and through, and Queensland through and through.
Roy Masters.
What a great interview. Great work, John Harms.
I had my two Roy Masters books (Inside League (1990) and Higher, Richer, Sleazier (2010)) for the great man to sign.
Roy signed ‘RL forever’ in one of the books.
For all of Roy’s experiences as an educator, coach, twenty-year mentor to Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm, writer for the Sydney Morning Herald, significant contribution to junior sport through the Australian Sports Commission, Roy loves rugby league, and rugby league people.
It was fascinating to hear of Roy’s early life in northern New South Wales. Roy’s mother Olga gave Roy his love of words and writing. Poetry was recited at the Masters’ dinner table.
Roy’s stories of his relationship with the legendary Tom Raudonikis sum up this love. Tommy was a tough as nail player. Roy was a support when Tommy delved into coaching. Sadly, when Tommy fell ill, again Roy was there (in the Gold Coast hospital) to offer support.
At 84 years of age, Roy Masters is across the rugby league landscape as much as anyone involved in the great game. His comments about the current game, the broadcast deal, six again, player talent, and expansion reflect a man who has spent a large portion of his life deeply involved in rugby league on several levels, particularly with players and other coaches.
His intellect is reflected in his wise views about all facets of rugby league. Roy did admit he had studied the teams ahead of Origin Game 2 and found it challenging to arrive at a verdict. Roy also admitted to the room, the group he described as ‘manly vipers from north of the Tweed!’, that Laurie Daley had invited him to speak to the New South Wales team in camp on Monday night. Roy’s message was that the game is not about ‘moments’. Rather, the entire 80 minutes. When pressed, Roy predicted a 26-16 win for the Blues.
The courtesy bus to the MCG: from the front passenger seat, our MC lead several lines of Denis Carnahan’s ‘That’s in Queensland’ as we were driven to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, ready for another wonderful Origin chapter.
A wonderful afternoon-evening, and another great Queensland win.
BAROSSA VALLEY RED WINE OF THE WEEK
Elderton 2024 Barossa Shiraz – as enjoyed at the All Nations Hotel, Richmond
Russel Hansen, South Sydney football club diamond member 6199, lives in Nuriootpa, Barossa Valley, South Australia. His golden retriever, Murray, is named after the South Sydney captain. Twitter/X: @Rabbit in the Vineyard @Russel_Hansen
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Russel Hansen
Has worked in schools for over thirty years – as a teacher, coach, coach educator, sports coordinator and in pastoral care roles. Whilst at Brisbane Boys’ College as Director of Athletics, he led teams to six GPS premierships in track and field, and cross country.
He has coached (athletics) at all levels from school to international. His squad at the University of Queensland (to January 2023) included Lachlan Kennedy OLY, Paris 4x100m relay runner, Australian record holder.
He is married to Heidi, a Primary school principal, and is father to two adult daughters.
Twitter: @Russel_Hansen
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