Author: Merewether.6523

Born at the Mater Hospital in Newcastle the Davis boys spent their formative years living in Rowan Crescent. They were close and stuck together, even formed their own gang called “The Green Gumnut Gang” with a mission to uphold law and order in their neighbourhood.

All attending Newcastle Boys High, Steve then headed into Insurance, Pete to Teachers College and John to University to study Law.

Their love of sport, fishing, the beach and socialising with their mates largely kept them out of trouble and enjoying the good life. They were obviously doing something right winning the affections of stunning young ladies Lynn, Judy and Sandy and later went on to have beautiful families.

These days the brothers all live within one hundred metres of each other, and are closer than ever, and whilst the Gumnut Gang Days are over, they still have a little gang that can be found sharing a yarn at the Beaches, the bowlo and especially the Greens. The Davis boys are part of the Greens DNA having been around the club for decades, played and volunteered countless hours, and of course John is the current club President.

Recently I asked the trio a few questions to try and draw out some childhood stories and their love of the Greens.

1. Who was your parent’s favourite?
John – Definitely Steve as the first born, he got all the attention and could do no wrong. He would have another view.
Steve – Definitely Pete & John
Pete – I was obviously the favourite!!

2. Who was the best rugby player?
Pete – I don’t know who was the best, you would have to ask John and Steve, but I was definitely the worst.
John – That would have been an interesting question to discuss 50 years ago but today who cares, it seems pretty irrelevant now. We were each in the normal range of club rugby players, nothing special just loved to play.
Steve – John by a mile – Pete & I were there to make up the numbers

3. How did Jinxy get his nickname?
John – It was on a Merewether Surf Club trip to a North Coast carnival as best I can recall. At some point he sat on the engine cover of the bus and the bus just stopped and the name stuck. That was just one event, truth is that over the years he did break lots of things including bits of himself.
Steve – During a trip away Pete was being a “super pest” with a water pistol & was made to move up to the front of the bus so that everyone could see him. He sat on the engine cover & within 5 minutes the bus broke down & he became “the Jinx” at that moment!

According to good mate Col Dixon, Jinxy had quite the reputation of causing havoc and the nickname ‘Jinx’ was solidified by many and varied mishaps and the path of destruction he left behind.

4. Who was the best looking / most popular in high school?
Steve – Obviously not me! (Bit harsh on yourself there Steveo)
Pete – Judy says me, but Lynn and Sandy wouldn’t agree.
John – I spent a lot of time getting pestered by girls asking questions about my big brothers. I couldn’t see it but apparently they were pretty cool.

5. Who got into the most trouble growing up?
John – Trouble ? We were angels.
Steve – Evenly shared – we all had our moments.
Pete – Not me, I’m perfect Peter.

6. What does it mean to be Green:
Steve – Great club, great people & great heritage. I am forever in debt to “Ronald Carlton Rose” for encouraging me to play for the Greens in 1967.
John – I loved all sport but particularly rugby but the Club means much more than that to me. My career took me away for large chunks of time over the years and the Greens became my constant source of connection to home. It’s like being part of a very big extended family and I really value that. Now at my stage it’s invigorating to interact with the whole spectrum of the Greens family from young to old and everyone in between. I want to see the Club thrive in the future to provide all that for the generations to come.
Pete – It has always been an honour to be part of such a strong sporting club which has outstanding comraderie and traditions. Being part of the Merewether sporting community with all the friendships formed over five decades has been a huge part of my life.

7. Favourite Green memory
Steve – Making the finals in 1967 & anytime we beat Wanderers or Uni
Pete – Too many to mention, but Grand Finals wins are always great. After game drinks in the greenroom are pretty hard to beat. Watching my sons, grandsons and granddaughters put on green jerseys is a highlight.
John – There really are heaps but two from the 60’s stand out:

First, I was part of the South Leagues under 14s team that transferred to the Greens in 1965. Club Legend and 300+ player Charlie Doherty was our coach. He was a sparkie and would pick up the Boys High kids including me from the Hamilton railway station in his panel van. I still remember the 8 of us rolling around in the back on the way to what he called “training” at Empire Park, involving mainly touch, swimming and the odd hand spearing lesson at Bar Beach. We loved Charlie!

Second, in late 1960s the first and only time the 3 of us played first grade together for the Greens on Townson, against Boolaroo I think.( Pete lock, Steve no. 8 and me in the centre). That was the good bit but it ended not so well for Pete. Running in support at some point I can still see him in the open at full pace on the way to the try line and then taking an awkward tackle which did his knee and rugby career. So perhaps a mixed memory rather than a favourite one.

Thanks Steve, Pete and John (and Col) for being good sports and answering my questions. You are part of the Greens DNA and loved by many! Thank you for all you have done for Merewether Carlton. #bleedgreen