RAY SMITH



Ray Smith and Stories of a Wayward Young Man



This is a reply e-mail from Ray Smith, in response to a story from Richard Arnold, who thought that a story about Ray was one of the funny moments he remembers in the club. Richards's recollections were that Ray had left a Boomerang BBQ for half hour or so, and when he returned, he said to one of the people at the BBQ, "I have only been gone for a short period, and before I left knew a lot of the people at the BBQ, now I don't know anyone". He was told that there was another party about 6 doors down in the same road.

Joe, I had forgotten that particular BBQ, but now you mention it, Richard's recollection is pretty accurate. I think the BBQ was at Don Cory's place. At that time I had not been too long in the club and was flatting with a few Morningside AFL Team members in a unit at Stones Corner.

The young lady I took to the BBQ was a friend that mixed with the Morningside set. She would have been a bit lost amongst the squash group so I expect she wanted to leave early. I would have driven her to a residence at Mt Gravatt where a few of the Morningside players/supporters used to get together for a drink or three.

I do remember returning to the BBQ after dropping her off and having a heck of a time in finding the right street as I was in unfamiliar territory for a Southsider. I eventually stumbled into the right street and as soon as I saw a house with a group of people partying naturally assumed it was the Boomerang BBQ. Not too sure about the detail at that stage, I would not have been to concerned at not knowing anybody initially because I would not have been too familiar with all the people at the Boomerang BBQ (I had not been too long with Boomerang). Don't know if they gave me a beer, probably politely sent me to Don's place.

Talking of Don Cory. I remember watching Don on the court at Boomerang once and his opposition had turned around to chase a ball and ran straight into Don. The player bounced off Don (who had not taken a backward step) and lay flat on the floor between Don and the front wall. Don immediately moved towards his seemingly unconscious opponent to what I thought was a gesture to assist the player. Instead, Don stepped over the player and then turned round to address the Umpire with the words "What's this - Theatre Royal?" Nobody answered the question but Don's opponent hastily got up and continued the game. Not sure who got the point for that rally but I am pretty sure Don went on to win the match.

This following story is supposedly about Ray Smith and was told by Barry Hartshorn, so I am not too sure how accurate the facts are, normally when Barry says "as I remember it" the story is bullshit, but in this case he didn't say that, so it could be a true story.

An incident concerning Ray Smith has just come to mind although it is not for publication. I enjoyed Ray's dry sense of humor and we served on the BDSRA together for a short time. On one of the rare occasions he opened his wallet to buy in turn, I noticed a condom and a $20.00 note, neatly folded.

Curiosity got the better of me and Ray explained the condom and $20.00 were there for any changes in luck. If his luck changed for the better, he had protection, if his luck changed for the worse; he had his cab fare home.

A funny man.. Cheers Barry Hartshorn

I ran the final story past Ray and this was his reply, Re Barry Hartshorn's story about me and the wallet. I don't remember that one, I don't mind if you put it on site, but make the comment that A) I don't remember and B) would have to deny it anyway as I didn't catch cabs home, always drove home.