Wandering Bear Podcast

After a brief hiatus we are back. Last year I learned an incredible amount from some amazing guests and i’m looking forward to seeing what we can learn from this years guests.

The plan will be to put out as many podcasts as consistently as possible, improve our production and hopefully all of you can spend a little time each week learning along with me.

This is a solo episode so we can get the feed rolling again. As always please reach out and let me know what you think and what guests you would like me to talk to.

Royce Simmons is an Australian former NRL Player & Coach. During his playing career he represented the Penrith Panthers, NSW Blues and Australian Kangaroos. After he finished playing he moved into the coaching world and ended up coaching the Panthers, Hull FC, St Helens and later worked as an assistant coach to Tim Sheens at Wests Tigers.

When Penrith Panthers’ rugby league legend Royce Simmons disclosed in January 2022 that, at age 61, he had been diagnosed with dementia the previous year, many were in shock.

Typically, the former Kangaroos hooker immediately set about not only exploring what he required to do to slow the dreaded condition’s progress, his thoughts turned to assisting others who were affected by the disease – not just sufferers but their supporting families too.

Within months, Royce’s Big Walk (a registered charity foundation)  as a reality and the support he has received by not just many VIPs of rugby league, but the Penrith district’s community and beyond has been extraordinary.

So, among other fund-raising initiatives for Royce’s designated not-for-profit support organisation, Dementia Australia, Royce will walk – from May 17-26 – the 300km from his small hometown of Gooloogong (population less than 300) through Cowra, Carcoar, Blayney, Bathurst, Katoomba and across the Blue Mountains, arriving pre-match at Penrith’s Bluebet Stadium the night the Panthers take on North Queensland Cowboys.

Along the way there will be several sportsman’s dinners or lunches, and a coaching clinic, to help raise funds for local rugby league on the route.

You can support Royce’s mission, Dementia Australia, junior rugby league and, in particular, the families who have or will go through what Royce himself is confronting, by donating or attending some of the functions from May 17-26.

The tough-as-nails former Panthers skipper is tackling his Alzheimer’s diagnosis just as he would any other opponent on the footy field – head on and with the benefit of his ‘team’ and their supporters as his major priority.

If you would like to donate and support Royce please visit the link below.

https://www.memorywalk.com.au/event/royces-big-walk

Richard Harry was a halfback, who became a flanker and finally a loosehead prop in order to realise his dream of representing Australia. Harry’s first taste of representative football came when he attended Scotch College in Melbourne and was selected at halfback for Victoria in the 1979 National Age Championships. In 1980 his family moved to Sydney and he attended Barker College. It was there that his size and speed prompted a shift to flanker. On leaving school he studied for an economics degree at Macquarie University and played for the Eastwood club. 

He then spent a year in London where he played for Harlequins. On his return to Eastwood, he represented NSW `B’ as a flanker before former national coach Bob Dwyer suggested to his dad that Harry consider a switch to the front row. In 1994 he moved to the University of Sydney under the tutelage of Brian Burnett and within a year made his debut for New South Wales against Otago in Dunedin. A strong Super Rugby season in 1996 was rewarded with a Test debut against Wales in Brisbane. Harry went on to play a role in the 1998 3-0 whitewash of New Zealand, the Rugby World Cup victory in 1999 and Australia’s first Tri Nations title in 2000. Richard Harry played 37 Tests for Australia in his five-year international career.

This week on the podcast we sit down with one of the godfathers of Australian Scrum coaching former Wallaby Mark Bell. In Bellys playing career he played his school rugby at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill - Australia's leading rugby nursery. A consistent hooker, Bell played in the undefeated 1st XV premiership team of 1986. That was the springboard to higher honours as a record-equalling ten players from that side were picked in the GPS 1st XV and from there Bell was selected for the Australian Schools tour of New Zealand. 

He played his club football in Sydney with Northern Suburbs and his strong performances were rewarded in 1992 with a debut for New South Wales against New Zealand. The following year Bell was a member of the Australian squad for the short tour of North America and France but he did not play in any of the Tests. 

In 1996 both Marco Caputo and Michael Foley were injured in the second Test of the home series against Wales. As a consequence Bell was called into the squad and made his Test debut the following week against Canada in Brisbane.

During his coaching career Belly has coached at the Queensland Reds, Japan Rugby National Team, Australian Rugby Union, Suntory, Canon, Easts Rugby Union, Sydney University, Merewether Carlton and the mighty Hunters Hill Under 14s.

This weeks guest on the podcast is Martin Bingisser. Martin is the founder of HMMR Media, Swiss national hammer throw coach, and 11-time national champion.. During his athletic career he worked extensively under Anatoli Bondarchuk, the most successful Olympic throws coach of all time, and writer of fundamental coaching text “Transfer of Training in Sport”. Martin is currently doing some continued education projects with the Australian Rugby Union.

This weeks guest on the Podcast is Winter Olympian Matthew Wekpe. Matthew is a member of the 2022 Jamaican Bobsled Team representing his country at the Beijing Olympics.

This weeks guest on the podcast is Scottish Rugby Royalty Dan Parks. During Dans professional career he won 67 caps for Scotland as well as representing the Glasgow Warriors, Cardiff Blues and Connacht. Dan is the Glasgow Warriors record appearance holder as well as holding the record for the most appearances for the club. Until recently Dan was also the all time leading point scorer for the Pro 12 (now The United Rugby Championship). Dan also represented Scotland in 2 Rugby World Cups winning Scotland player player at the 2007 tournament. As well as doing commentary and media work, Dan has recently taken up the role as the Sydney University Director of Colts in Sydneys Premier Grade Colts competition.

This week on the podcast is Brumbies Head Coach & Wallabies Forwards Coach Dan McKellar. I have been a massive fan of Dans for a long time and it was an honour to sit down and pick his brain on all aspects of how to build teams & the unique challenge of getting 8 massive humans to work together.

This week on the podcast we have part 2 of our chat with current NSW Waratah Head Coach Darren Coleman. During Darrens coaching career he has won the Shute Shield with both the Warringah Rats & Gordon Rugby Club. In addition Darren was the foundation coach for the Los Angeles Giltinis in the US Major League competition taking them to a championship in their first year. Darren has coached professionally for 20 plus years and has had experience working previously in Italy & Canada as well as being an assistant coach at the NSW Waratahs, a Skills Coach at the ACT Brumbies and head coach in the Shute Shield for Penrith Emus, Northern Suburbs & Eastern Suburbs.

This week on the podcast we have part 1 of our chat with current NSW Waratah Head Coach Darren Coleman. During Darrens coaching career he has won the Shute Shield with both the Warringah Rats & Gordon Rugby Club. In addition Darren was the foundation coach for the Los Angeles Giltinis in the US Major League competition taking them to a championship in their first year. Darren has coached professionally for 20 plus years and has had experience working previously in Italy & Canada as well as being an assistant coach at the NSW Waratahs, a Skills Coach at the ACT Brumbies and head coach in the Shute Shield for Penrith Emus, Northern Suburbs & Eastern Suburbs.