BEER BELLY " ROLL" MODEL FOR SUNSHINE STATE

Three  giants of  the  beer-fancying variety, including Queensland’s  portly Police Minister, revel  in  their obesity  at a   beer–belly  contest. --A 1984 newspaper  caption.  

The  rolly polly  politician, Russ Hinze (1919-1991 ), the  Queensland   Minister  for  Everything ,  was  the subject of  many cartoons .   Throughout  the  nation  he  became  a   figure  of  fun . On stage , the  brilliant  comedian ,  Max Gillies ,   climbed   inside  a  bean  bag  to  portray  Russ ,  keen  on   mud crabs   and   foaming ,  amber  fluid. The  above  photograph   of  the minister    officiating  at   a  beer belly  contest  was  run  in  various  parts  of  the  nation . In  the West Australian newspaper it said the Police Minister  bared  his own substantial  stomach  to   something  less   than   national   acclaim.

Hinze  was a prominent  figure in more ways than one. During the  controversial  70s and  80s  era   in  Queensland   the  Racing  Development Fund  was set up  , ministerial  rezonings  took  place  and  Jupiters Casino got  the green light.

When asked if  his  portfolios , which included racing and liquor licencing, made  his ownership of  hotels  and  racehorses  a  conflict of  interest , Hinze  famously responded : "That's not a conflict of interest, that's  a  convergence of  interest!"

An  American  journalist  once   told   Cyclops  of a   shuddersome    sight at  an   Alice Springs   conference – Russ , stripped down to  his  jocks--  stretched  out  on  a  bed . She  happened  to  blunder  into   his room  to check that everything was  ready  for  the gathering  and  disturbed  Russ, who  had  arrived  early , tired out ,and had hit  the sack, causing  the mattress to sag.   He  rose  up , addressed  here  as  “girlie” ,  and  asked if everything  was  ok.

While  Minister  for  Police, he had  the enormous cheek   to sling  off  at  a  tennis  playing  police  officer  who bravely  alleged  corruption  in  the  ranks ,  saying   the  policeman  did  not   look  very  fit  on court .  The minister  quipped  that it  would  be absurd  for  him (Russ)  to  play  tennis . As a  result , in July 1982 , the  Adelaide  publication , Mary’s Own Paper ,  run by Samela  Harris , daughter   of   Max  Harris ,  ran  the  following skit , illustrated by  Maxwell ,  which  featured a  mystery Queensland Cabinet member  having  accepted  a  fabulous offer to  play in  a  Tennis  Circus. it showed  him wearing a  mask and  carrying  an autographed can of underarm deodorant , Ball Fresh.

 

In February 1988 Russell Hince  resigned in disgrace  after  allegations were made  against  him  in  the  Fitzgerald  inquiry  into   the corruption  scandal of  the  Bjelke–Petersen  era of  politics.  At the  age  of   72 , Hince  died  before  criminal charges  relating  to  allegations of corruption  could  be  bought against  him . After  his  death, the Queensland  Deputy Premier, T. J. Burns, in parliament  , said  the  best cartoon  he  ever saw of  Hinze   was  one that  showed him as a bulldog .  On TV, Hinze had  said he would rather be a bulldog than a  mouse. In the cartoon ,  he  had  been depicted as  a bulldog with dark glasses  and a  white  cane  outside   a  casino  and  brothel  in  Brisbane’s  notorious   Valley ,  which  had  a flashing  neon light , saying  he   did  not   know  there    were    any   there .

FLAB FACTS : A large part of  the  Queensland population is now officially   overweight   or   obese .  In   adults , close to   60  percent  are in this category ; in  schoolchildren  , the  figure stated  is  at   least  40  percent .  Ah  Bananaland , beautiful   one  day- Jumboland /  Hinze County the  next  five decades . In  the  case  of  politicians , a substantial  number  in   Queensland  are   plainly  overweight.