Your Favorite Moments

Narooma was hosting the competition favorites Bega in the Group 16 Match of the Day and the Bega Radio Station would always give a live radio broadcast of the match of the day to the far south coast and southern highlands.

To do the broadcast live from Narooma Oval the announcer Des, (I can't think of his surname and his offsiders name) would set up their gear on the back of a holden tray back ute, very close to the eastern sideline. From there they would run a landline cable to the nearby Narooma Bowling Club and "hook" it up from there.


Bowls Club (Foreground) looking towards the "house full" Narooma Oval

Unfortunately for Des and his offsider his set up position was right in front of the "Narooma Hill" where a large group of our supporters would congregate as it was a great spot to watch the game and it was very handy to the back entrance of the Bowls club where liquid refreshments could be quickly obtained. A well worn and well used track was obvious, if you can get my drift. And another thing which had to be taken into account it was close to cracker night, and in those days you could still by bungers from Canberra, which was only two hours driving time from Narooma.


The Narooma Hill, the voice of the RED DEVILS

Now Des himself was known to be a bit partial to a rum or three before his match commentary and was primed to give a big call this particular day.

The game and commentary was well underway when some unknown offender had made his way from the sanctuary of the Narooma Hill and had set up his own version of a weapon of mass destruction under the announcers utility. The story goes that there were a number of bungers tied together and the wick was a slow burning lighted cigarette. For those in the know, it was like a larger version of a line of Tom Thumb bungers.

Everyone to the east of the ute and that included everyone that was sitting on the Narooma Hill knew what was about to happen.

The bungers went off with an almighty boom, boom, boom, and Des's offsider nearly fell off the back to the trayback. The sound could be heard over the radio broadcast. Des primed as he was apparently never missed a beat and said something like, " The goats on the Hill have just gone off", but the poor offsider was shell-shocked and took some time to regain his composure.

The hill erupted as one when the weapons went off.

For the record Bega 11, Narooma 11.

A FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY...
The lines of communication were not the best in Group 16 during those days and quite often the radio station would ring the local Hotel, which was Hylands Hotel, Narooma late after the game to get the full time results for the football wrap that night and the next morning. More then often the Narooma informant would be a bit worse for wear after a days hydration at the local league and some wild, woolley, and incorrect scores were broadcasted over the airwaves.
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