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2010

JANUARY

Thursday, January 21, 2010.     40^o C  = 104.4^o F today.   

Monthly Hogarth Club Luncheon; The Chesser Cellar.
Diners: Michael Jacobs, Tony Brooks, John Santich, Robert “Red” Hodge, Ian Hamilton, Tony Parkinson, Robert Hesketh, John Potter, David Quick, Leo Davis. Apologies: John Bannon, Wayne Anthoney, Peter Tregilgas.

Clockwise from front left: Andrew Bishop, David Quick, Robert “Red” Hodge, Michael Jacobs, Haidee, Tony Parkinson

Michael Jacobs retold some good yarns. Around 1973 he went to see Don’s Party with Margaret Whitlam.  Gough was unable to attend but turned up at the last minute; ‘I thought you two should be chaperoned.’  As the film ended there was some risqué line to which Whitlam boomed, for all anywhere nearby to hear; ‘That’s the best I’ve heard since ‘spear the bearded clam’’.

John Santich, John Potter.

John Santich is a Broken Hill boy and has been involved in mining and investment. He came as Tony Brooks’s guest. He has some connection to the company that is in bother in the Flinders Ranges, about inappropriately disposing of radioactive wastes from exploration.

 

Michael Jacobs, Tony Parkinson, Robert Hesketh, Malcolm Elliott.

Robert Hesketh, a guest of Tony Parkinson, had strong views about the wine industry. Apparently he has some reason to be confident of his opinions. He was a grape grower, started as a steward at the Adelaide Wine Show and after many years rose to be something like Chairman of Judges, and was so for many years. He is insistent that many varieties of grapes are being grown in the wrong places and predicted which would prosper in future and which would fade away. He said Chardonnay will disappear, in SA.

Clockwise from front left: Robert Hesketh, Malcolm Elliott, Tony Brooks, John Potter.

Tony Brooks, who can make the simplest thing funny, gave a lovely reading and also told a joke about an Irish housepainter who regularly quoted too low and made ends meet by watering down his paint. He got the contract, under undue pressure from the priest, at far too low a quote, to paint the church. Watered down paint was washed away by a rain storm. “I’m ruined! I’m ruined! What can I do now?” A flash of lightning, a crash of thunder and a booming voice from above; “Repaint, repaint, my son and thin no more.”  I told the joke to a friend next day and did not raise a smile.

MARCH

Thursday, March 18, 2010.

Hogarth Room at The Chesser Cellar.
Diners: Wayne Anthoney, Tony Brooks, , Leo Davis, Michael Jacobs, Ed Pegge, John Potter, David Quick. Apologies: John Bannon, Ian Hamilton, Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Peter Tregilgas.
 

 Tony Brooks, Leo Davis, Wayne Anthoney, John Potter.

Clockwise from front left: Wayne Anthoney, Michael Jacobs, David Quick, Ed Pegge, Tony Brooks.

David Quick, QC., launched a lengthy and passionate defence of Eugene McGhee, who’d, just yesterday, been cleared of a Conspiracy charge.  David’s argument did not seem to sway either of Potter or Anthoney.

Ed Pegge, Tony Brooks, Wayne Anthoney, David Quick. (Note the hats at rear; 35.6^oC outside.)

Ed read some very amusing archival obituaries from The Telegraph.  He was working with somebody on putting together a show based upon such readings.

Michael Jacobs, David Quick, Ed Pegge, Tony Brooks.

Alf Gard, Race Caller and Commentator, appearing on the ABC TV Saturday night News, was it 25 years ago, quite clearly drunk, and him being dismissed a couple of days later. Tony Brooks says he was unfairly dismissed, having been equally drunk, as was to be expected after a day at the races, on every previous Saturday night news. Tony told of being an announcer on local ABC Radio (5AN?), when the ABC was located in Hindmarsh Square, setting a record to play, and slipping out, in hearing range of the studio, for a smoke. This gave him a view into the underground car park into which a much disliked ABC executive drove. He got out of his car and Alf Gard approached him and punched him to the ground. The guy got up, looked about and saw no witnesses, so brushed himself off, and walked in to work. Alf headed to a local pub, where ABC folks had a regular mid morning drink, and told his version of the story. He’d been told, by some other executive, that some set back he’d experienced recently was because of something the victim had said or done.

Michael Jacobs, Briony Moore, David Quick.

Tony Brooks produced a bottle of fizz with which we celebrated the birth, last Tuesday, of his first grandchild, Zar’s son.  Potter announced that his, 8^th and 9^th grandchildren, twin boys(?), were born a few days ago.  Jacob’s  62^nd birthday, coming up this Saturday, was also toasted.

APRIL

Thursday, April 15, 2010.
Hogarth Club upstairs at The Chesser Cellar.

Diners: Wayne Anthoney, Michael Jacobs, Tony Brooks, Robert “Red” Hodge, John Potter, John Bannon, Prof Wilf Prest, Ed Pegge, Malcolm Elliott Leo Davis. Apologies: Peter Tregilgas (NSW), Ian Hamilton (Spain), Tony Parkinson.

Michael Jacobs and John Bannon

John Potter arrived very late so is having his main course served, by Cynthia, after we’ve all finished ours.  Note the reproduction Hogarth behind him, the originals all having gone to richer homes.

Michael Jacobs, John Bannon (signing Farewell card for Cynthia), Cynthia.

Cynthia knew better than we did, even after Primo’s explanation, how tenuous were employment options at Chesser Cellar, so she’d found another position (was it with Negotiants, the Yalumba linked wine importer?) and today was her last.

Ed Pegge, Primo Caon (explaining his plans to sell the Chesser Cellar lease/licence), Malcolm Elliott.

Here we see Chesser Cellars Manager Primo Caon addressing a solemn gathering - Wayne Anthoney,

Tony Brooks, Red Hodge, John Potter, John Bannon, Wilf Prest, Pegge, Malcolm Elliott.

Primo only ever addressed the club to announce a price rise. On this occasion he softened the blow by

explaining that they would not be charging us corkage, which is odd because we never paid corkage in

forty years. Perhaps if we had, the Chesser may have survived.

MAY

Thursday, May 20, 2010. 

Monthly Hogarth Club Luncheon; The Chesser Cellar.
Diners:, Tony Brooks, Wayne Anthoney, John Bannon, John Potter, Allen Lyne, Andrew Bishop, Leo Davis. Apologies: Michael Jacobs (overseas).

There has been staff turn-over, since, and probably related to Primo revealing, last month, that the Cellar is up for sale. The new staff have not got on top of Hogarth routine, and so bread and water had to asked for and the hors-d’œuvres arrived late, and were placed in the wrong position. Used to being pampered, some lads became unsettled and impatient.

Clockwise from front left: Allen Lyne, Andrew Bishop, Tony Brooks, John Potter, John Bannon.

Andrew Bishop, Alice Cheid, Tony Brooks.

Tony Brooks, Alie, Wayne. Strangely lascivious look on the face of the last-mentioned.

Bish, Brooks, Wayne, Pottsie

Clockwise from front right: Allen Lyne, Andrew Bishop, Tony Brooks, Wayne Anthoney, John Potter, John Bannon

Wayne, Pottsie, JB

JUNE

Thursday, June 17, 2010.
Monthly Hogarth Club Luncheon; Hogarth Room; The Chesser Cellar.
Diners: Tony Brooks, John Bannon, Wayne Anthoney, Robert “Red” Hodge, John Potter, Malcolm Elliott, Wilfrid Prest, Leo Davis. Apologies: Michael Jacobs, Ian Hamilton Tony Parkinson.

Wayne Anthoney, Robert Hodge, Tony Brooks, John Bannon, Malcolm Elliott, Wilfrid Prest, waiter.

A recurring and popular dish, lamb shanks, was served today.

Tony Brooks, John Bannon.

Tony Brooks suggested, quite seriously, I think, that Pegge be nominated for a Royal Award; prompted by recent Queen’s Birthday awards that did not include anyone from Hogarth. This lack has been made up in later years with awards to Wilf Prest, Ian Bidmeade, Wayne Anthoney, Keith Conlon, Rob Morrison and others.




Malcolm Elliott, Wilf Prest.
 

Malcolm Elliott, Wilfrid Prest, Wayne Anthoney, John Potter.

Wayne brought along and showed us a book by his Alice Springs based artist friend Rod Moss. It is titled 'The Hard Light of Day' and won the 2010 Prime Minister's Award for non-fiction. From the introduction: Two years after artist Rod Moss arrived in Alice Springs to teach painting, he met an Indigenous couple who had set up camp in the gully beside his flat. Over the next twenty-five years, his friendship with Xavier and Petrina Neil and the friendships that grew from it with the families of Whitegate, an Arrernte camp on the outskirts of town, would nourish and challenge Moss beyond his imagining.
 

Tony Brooks, John Bannon.

JULY

Thursday, July 15, 2010.
Monthly Hogarth Club Luncheon; Hogarth Room; The Chesser Cellar.
Diners: Michael Jacobs, Wayne Anthoney, John Bannon, Tony Brooks, Ian Hamilton, John Potter, Bob Lott, Leo Davis. Apologies: Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Andrew Bishop.

I caught the edge of a conversation between Bannon and Potter about the joy to be had attending Evensong. Bannon has become more an Anglican now that his cancer has returned.

Through whom and through what circumstances unknown, the father of Alice Chied, our waitress today, a journalism student, is known well by some of the table.

Tony Brooks, John Bannon, Bob Lott, Primo Caon, Wayne Anthoney, John Potter with Alice Cheid (standing) .

John Bannon, Bob Lott, Alice Cheid, Primo Caon, John Potter.

(Camera on timer on sideboard): Wayne Anthoney, John Potter, Michael Jacobs (just visible), Ian Hamilton, Tony Brooks, John Bannon, Leo Davis, Bob Lott.

Clockwise from front centre: Wayne Anthoney, John Potter, Michael Jacobs, Ian Hamilton, Tony Brooks, John Bannon, Bob Lott.

There was much discussion of the biography of Hawke, written by his wife, Blanche d’Alpuget and Keating’s letter to Hawke, published in today’s Australian. I wish I knew enough to understand some of the anecdotes, and had the memory to recall them. Bannon told of a phone call from Bob Hawke, with appropriate impersonation, when a CHOG meeting was about to occur and Keating was trying to undercut Hawke. Ros Garnaud came into the story somehow and Bannon thinks he might have inadvertently assisted Keating against Hawke.
 

Primo brought some people up to inspect the Hogarth Room. The woman in blue is to promote the room. All too late with Chesser Cellar closing in early July 2012.

 

I’d found a very funny piece, direct from Hansard, reprinted in the Guardian Weekly and realised I’d not be up to reading it, not having Footlights calibre, so I’d prepared 5 copies with high-lighted parts and invited the ‘Footlighters’ to read the five roles. I’d wondered if one of more of the chaps might say ‘Piss off’ but they all jumped at the chance to perform. It went very well, though some lads hammed it up outrageously.

THE MOUSE OF LORDS
From a debate in Britain's Palace of Westminster
House of Lords Hansard, March 3, Cited in Harpers Magazine.

Cast:
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: John Potter.
Lord Brabazon of Tara. Tony Brooks.
Lord Bradshaw of Wallingford. John Bannon.
Lord Pilkington of Oxenford. Bob Lott.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean. Wayne Anthoney.

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: What measures are being considered to improve pest control in the Lords' in this part of the Palace of Westminster?

Lord Brabazon of Tara: My Lords, the administration is fully aware of the problem and is taking all appropriate measures. We retain the, services of an independent pest-control consultant and a full-time pest controller. The current focus is on poisoning and trapping, blocking of mouse access points, and more frequent cleaning of bars and restaurants to remove food debris. The program was intensified over the February recess, and fewer sightings of mice have been reported since.

Baroness Finlay: I thank the noble lord for his reply. How many calls have there been to the mouse helpline? Has the accuracy of that information been checked, given that the staff report seeing mice on a daily basis in the eating areas? Has consideration been given to having hypoallergenic cats on the estate? Miss Wilson, when she was a resident superintendent in this palace, had a cat that apparently caught up to 60 mice a night. The corpses were then swept up in the morning. Finally, does the noble lord recognize the fire hazard that mice pose, because they eat through insulating cables? It would be a tragedy for this beautiful palace to burn down for lack of a cat.

Lord Brabazon: My Lords, there are a number of questions there. I cannot give an answer to the number of calls made to the mouse helpline — if that is its title. I suspect that it would not be a good use of resources to count them up. But I am well aware of the problem of mice, as I said It is something we take seriously. As for getting a cat, I was not aware that such a thing as a hypoallergenic cat existed. I do not know whether our cat at home is one of those. There are a number of reasons why it is not a good idea to have cats. They would ingest mouse poison when eating poisoned mice, which would not be very nice for them, and there would be nothing to keep them where they are needed or stop them walking around the House on desks in offices, or tables in restaurants and bars - and maybe even in the Chamber itself. Therefore, we have ruled out at this stage the possibility of acquiring a cat or cats.

Lord Bradshaw of Wallingford: I have spoken continually to the staff in the eating places in the House, and I acknowledge that there has been some diminution in the number of mice around. But could I press the noble lord, because further action needs to be taken? I know that this is an old building, but mice are still here, and we're talking about places where food is served. I have no magic solution, but perhaps the consultant who is being employed might have some answers.
 

Lord Brabazon: My Lords, I am well aware that there are still mice around. I saw one in the Bishops' Bar only yesterday evening. I do not know whether it was the same one that I saw the day before or a different one. It is always difficult to tell the differences between the various mice one sees. We believe that the problem is getting better. Cleaning is one of the measures we are taking, as I outlined in my original answer. As I speak here this afternoon, the Bishops' Bar and the Guest Room are being hoovered so we can get rid of the food scraps from lunch. If you were a mouse, you would rather eat the crumbs of a smoked-salmon sandwich than the bait. Therefore, we want to remove the crumbs as quickly as possible.

Lord Pilkington of Oxenford: Why should I and noble Lords trust the Executive to deal with mice when they cannot deal with the economy?

Lord Brabazon: My Lords, I do not actually deal with the economy. I am glad to say that that would be above my pay grade, whereas trying to deal with the mice is probably just about right for me.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My Lords, I was in total ignorance that there was anything of the nature of a mouse helpline until this question time. Can the chairman of the committees tell us what helplines there are for members of the House on other issues that we do not know about?

Lord Brabazon: I rather hope that we do not have too many others. I was not going to advertise the existence of the mouse helpline, although it was advertised some time ago. Indeed, I invited members of the House to telephone when they saw mice. The trouble is that when the person at the other end of the line goes to check, very often the mouse has gone elsewhere.

THE END

Jacobs raised the matter of him being in conversation with Blanche d’Alpuget, at the Hawke Centre at UniSA soon. Brooks said there was just one question we all wanted asked and Jacobs was genuinely flummoxed. An old boast of Pegge’s was raised. ‘Ask her if she really did have it off with Pegge in a lifeboat on the trip to London.’ Jacobs insisted he’d not be asking but suggested ‘She’d just as likely answer ‘which night?’’ One of Pegge’s many boastful stories, including which actors he has worked with, spoken with, etc., is that, after graduation from NIDA (first class?) he sailed to the UK and had a passionate affair with d’Alpuget on the boat trip. Brooks pointed out that if that story is not confirmed ALL the others must be put in doubt!!

Jacobs had just arrived back from his first trip overseas and he was asked if he had a travel report. He was most impressed sitting in the choir stalls, with the choir, in St Paul’s Cathedral, in London. He was thrilled going to Les Deux Magots and seeing photos of celebrated folk (Hemingway, Simone De Beauvoir, etc.) over the seats they used to sit in.

 

AUGUST

Thursday, August 19, 2010.
Monthly Hogarth Club Luncheon; Hogarth Room; The Chesser Cellar.
Diners: Wayne Anthoney, Michael Jacobs, Tony Brooks, Robert “Red” Hodge, Ian Hamilton, Tony Parkinson, John Potter, Bob Lott, Leo Davis. Apologies: John Bannon, Wilfrid Prest, Andrew Bishop.
 

Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Michael Jacobs, waitress, Ian Hamilton, Bob Lott, Tony Parkinson.

Clockwise from front left: Michael Jacobs, Ian Hamilton, Bob Lott, waitress, Tony Parkinson.

Somebody raised the matter of the half page advertisement that Bob Lott had put in The Advertiser, a couple of days ago. It complained of unfair advantage given to The Entertainment Centre, detrimental to his Thebarton Theatre. The Editor of The Advertiser leaked the existence of and the facts in the advertisement to the manager of the Entertainment Centre, before publication.

Clockwise from front left: Ian Hamilton, Bob Lott, Tony Parkinson, Wayne Anthoney, John Potter.

SEPTEMBER
 

Thursday, September 16, 2010.
Hogarth Room. The Chesser Cellar.
Diners: Michael Jacobs, John Bannon, Tony Brooks, Andrew Bishop , Edmund Pegge, John McGowan, John Potter, Wilfrid Prest, Leo Davis. Apologies: Wayne Anthoney, Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, David Quick, Ian Hamilton.

John Bannon arrived, in his wig and with a very husky voice. Later it was revealed that it had arisen from his continuing chemo-therapy. He was in remarkably good spirits throughout the meal. He disappeared, maybe to the toilet, and was away so long that Michael suggested his welfare be checked. Andrew went to do so.

 

John Bannon, John McGowan, Wilfrid Prest, Michael Jacobs, Justine Lee, Tony Brooks, John Potter.

Wilf Prest passed around his draft of a letter of protest about the Union hall. It had his and Bannon’s names on it and Bannon objected to parts of it, thinking it had an unsuitably aggressive tone towards the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Andrew Bishop made it clear that he is opposed to retention of the Union hall. This may be linked to his not being an Adelaide University Graduate and certainly not a Footlighter.
 

John Bannon, Wilfrid Prest, John McGowan, Ed Pegge.

In passing, I told a chap that I was not afraid of death but, rather, of dying, the process. He revealed that he is afraid of oblivion.

Ed Pegge, John Bannon, John McGowan, Tony Brooks, Andrew Bishop, John Potter.

In his ‘Neville Wran’ voice, Bannon read an extract from a speech, made by Edmund Bourke, that had been dishonestly quoted in The Australian, by an academic who quoted what suited him, about the relationship between an elected MP and his voters. He stopped immediately before Bourke made it clear that, once elected, he was duty bound to act as a free agent, in the interests of his voters, but not at their command. Those with a legal background (Jacobs, Bannon, Wilf) and some others, were very familiar with the extract and understood how disgraceful and dishonest the behaviour of the academic had been; and maybe the Editor of The Australian.

Wilfrid Prest told us in detail about the very successful operation that he’s had done on his spine, recently. It has given him ‘a new lease of life’ and spared him possible paralysis from the hips down or at least loss of control of his bowels, etc. Jacobs told of a serious injury to his back, possibly in early 2004 and the trials of trying to complete an article for SA Life while terribly much in pain and immobilised.
 

Andrew Bishop, John Bannon, Tony Brooks, John McGowan, John Potter.

Wilf Prest, Tony Brooks, John Bannon, John McGowan, Primo Caon, Ed Pegge, Andrew Bishop, John Potter.

Downstairs Ed Pegge had complained, to Primo, that he’d not been invited to sign a plaque that had some ‘names’ who’d signed it, including Judy Dench. Pegge made much of having dined with her, for an hour and a half, ‘at her invitation’, in London, a few days ago. Somehow that led to Primo telling a story about Robert Helpmann.

 

OCTOBER
 

Thursday, October 21, 2010.
Hogarth Room upstairs at The Chesser Cellar.
Diners: Michael Jacobs, Wayne Anthoney, Tony Brooks, John Potter, Leo Davis. Apologies: John Bannon, Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Andrew Bishop, Wilfrid Prest.

 

Tony Brooks, John Potter, Lily, Wayne Anthoney.

Steak & kidney was a recurring item on our surprise fixed menu each month. It was served in its pot then decanted by a waitress each time. Note the mushroom on top. Bannon had to reminded, some months, of his allergy to such.

Tony Brooks, Michael Jacobs, Lily (at rear), John Potter, Wayne Anthoney.
 

Tony Brooks, Michael Jacobs, Lily, John Potter, Wayne Anthoney.
 

NOVEMBER

Thursday, November 18, 2010.
The Chesser Cellar upstairs at Chesser Cellar..
Diners: Wayne Anthoney, John Bannon, Andrew Bishop, Leo Davis, Malcolm Elliott, Matthew Engel (Jacobs’s guest), Ian Hamilton, Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Michael Jacobs, John McGowan, Tony Parkinson, Edmund Pegge,. Apologies: Tony Brooks (Portugal), Bob Lott (London),

 

Malcolm Elliott, Michael Jacobs, Matthew Engel, Ed Pegge, Ian Hamilton (head of table), Wayne Anthoney, John Potter, John McGowan, Tony Parkinson, Andrew Bishop.
 

Wayne Anthoney, John Potter, John McGowan, Tony Parkinson.

Matthew Engel, John Bannon, Ed Pegge, Ian hamilton, Wayne Anthoney, John Potter, John McGowan.

No key hole work on Pegge who’d had a kidney removed. Being a shy lad it was hard to get him to perform/display.

Andrew Bishop. Robert Hodge, Malcolm Elliott.

Michael Jacobs, his guest Matthew Engel, John Bannon, Ed Pegge.

Pudding time so we’d drunk enough for John to launch into a bawdy song.

DECEMBER

Thursday, December 16, 2010.
The Chesser Cellar.
Diners: Wayne Anthoney, Andrew Bishop, David Bishop, Tony Brooks, Ron Danvers, Leo Davis, Malcolm Elliott, Michael Jacobs, Bob Lott, John McGowan, Mike Norman, John Potter, Edmund Pegge, Wilfred Prest, Dick Richards. Apologies: John Bannon, Robert ‘Red’ Hodge, Ian Hamilton, Paul Lloyd, Tony Parkinson.

 

Clockwise from centre: Wayne Anthoney, Ron Danvers, Tony Brooks, Edmund Pegge, Dick Richards, Wilfred Prest, Andrew Bishop, Bob Lott, Michael Jacobs, David Bishop, Malcolm Elliott, John Potter, Mike Norman. John McGowan must be off frame right; Leo Davis behind camera.

Clockwise from front left: Bob Lott, Wayne Anthoney, John Potter, John McGowan, Michael Jacobs, Andrew Bishop (in the carver’s chair at top of table), David Bishop, Wilfred Prest, Dick Richards, Ron Danvers, Edmund Pegge, Mike Norman, Malcolm Elliott, Tony Brooks.

Brothers Andrew and David Bishop, Wilfred Prest.

David Bishop, Wilfred Prest, Dick Richards (Wilf’s guest). Christmas turkey.

Wilf Prest brought Dick Richards as his guest. Dick was a curator at the Art Gallery of SA between 1968 and 2000, during which time he established a pioneer collection of Southeast Asian ceramics. Between 1978 and 1985, Wilf was chairman of the Board of the Art Gallery of South Australia
 

Clockwise from front left: Dick Richards, Ron Danvers, Edmund Pegge, Mike Norman, Malcolm Elliott, Tony Brooks (top of table)., Bob Lott (hidden), Wayne Anthoney, John Potter, John McGowan, Michael Jacobs.
Our waitress is clearing after main course.

Clockwise from front left: Tony Brooks, Bob Lott, Wayne Anthoney, John Potter, John McGowan, Michael Jacobs, Andrew Bishop (top of table), David Bishop, Wilfred Prest, Dick Richards, Ron Danvers, Edmund Pegge, Mike Norman, Malcolm Elliott.
 

Wayne’s joke has hit the spot.

Clockwise from front left: Bob Lott, Wayne Anthoney (on blues harp), John Potter, John McGowan, Michael Jacobs, Andrew Bishop (top of table), David Bishop, Wilfred Prest, Dick Richards, Ron Danvers, Edmund Pegge, Mike Norman.

Carol singing time. Wayne provided the musical support. Paul Lloyd and his flute sent apologies from Port Augusta.
Sartorial notes 1:

John McGowan and Michael Jacobs are always fashion leaders.

Sartorial notes 2:
Those were the days when most lads, properly, wore ties. But some discarded them once drinking began. Not so Wayne and Primo.
 

AND THAT WAS 2010!