How long have you been running Two-Up in Bangalow, and what exactly is your role in the ring?
I’ve run the Two-Up for 25 years at the Bangalow Hotel, the Bangalow Bowlo and now at the Bangalow Lions Club Bar and BBQ Kiosk at the Showgrounds. I’m the ‘Boxer’ and the ‘Centre Banker’, so I run the Two-Up School and cover the centre bet from the spinner, who must try and throw heads of course. ‘Cowboy Olly’ from Eureka is the ‘Ringer’, he supervises the penny spins and holds the centre bet, and ‘Bangalow Maxy’ is ‘Penciller’, recording the next up spinner and the heads or tails results. It works out pretty even on the day most years.

For someone who’s never seen it before, what makes the Bangalow Two-Up School special?
It’s quite a colourful old-school experience for the many visitors in town on the day, and especially tourists from abroad who have never seen anything like it. Of course it’s unique to Australia, it has some measure of crude Aussie charm and that’s why we do it every year. It’s not something you can replicate or package up, it just happens organically with the crowd, the calls, the laughter and the odd groan when the pennies land the wrong way.

Why is it important to keep this tradition going?
There are a few reasons, but the main one is respect for Australian tradition and heritage, respect for ANZAC Day and to preserve the memories of Aussie diggers who fought and died for our country. Secondly, it’s a good fun old-school pastime and has to be the fairest form of light gambling imaginable, heads or tails, that’s pretty simple. Thirdly: it allows Bangalow Lions to raise funds for our local relevant charities, so it’s a fun community day for Bangalow with a bit of purpose behind it.

You mentioned ANZAC Day – what does the day mean to you personally?
My own forebears fought in the Great War, WWII and Vietnam and they all despised the conflict, the death, the destruction and abhorred the futility of war, but they all marched on ANZAC Day to remember their mates, those that made it and those that didn’t. It’s important that our children understand and respect our country’s history and the raison d’être for Australia’s ANZAC Day on 25 April every year. It’s not just a piss up, it means something. It’s important to Australia and Australians, and Kiwis of course.

There’s a strong community element to the day as well – who benefits from the funds raised?
We will split any and all proceeds on the day between Lions for Legacy, The Younger Heroes and Bangalow Red Cross, who all do such a wonderful job of supporting the families of veterans. They deserve our support on ANZAC Day in particular. We will shake the donation bucket every 10 spins and encourage folks to throw in a few bob each time. The obvious winners will receive a lot more encouragement, that’s for sure.

Some people might think it’s just about the gambling – how do you see it?
It’s not really that much about the gambling at all, we don’t play for sheep stations. I’m happy not to win or lose on the day and for everybody to have a laugh and enjoy themselves and each others’ company. It’s more about the atmosphere, the connection, and doing something together that’s been part of Australian life for a long time.

It’s actually only legal in NSW once a year on ANZAC Day, 25 April, and I think that’s just perfect. We’re allowed to start the game earlier in the day but I think 2–6pm is quite enough. It’s bloody exhausting bouncing around the ring like a clown. And we don’t need to overdo the gambling side of things; we want everyone to leave happy and have enjoyed their once-a-year Bangalow Two-Up School experience.

How does the day fit into the wider ANZAC Day events in Bangalow?
It’s important to connect and participate in the ANZAC Day March down Byron Street and the Bangalow RSL Hall ceremony. That’s what anchors the day. The Two-Up comes after that, and it’s all part of remembering and respecting the reasons for ANZAC Day while bringing people together in a way that feels natural and local.

What would you say to someone thinking about coming along for the first time?
It’s a fun day really for the Bangalow community with a subtle but solemn purpose of preserving ANZAC Day traditions and heritage, supporting our local charities and bringing people together for good old-fashioned Aussie community spirit. Come along, bring a few bucks and good vibes, and you’ll understand what it’s all about pretty quickly. See you at the Two-Up.

“On the 22nd of December last year we went up to Foodworks and loaded up the trolley; we had no idea what to do. If you’d have told me where we would be today I don’t know if I would have believed you,” says Bangalow Men’s Shed President David Noakes.

The Bangalow Community Pantry is celebrating its first year of operation, and a lot has happened between now and that inaugural trip to Foodworks. I had the chance to speak to David and Shed member Louise Anderson, who have been running the pantry, to learn more about the work they’ve been doing out in front of the Men’s Shed.

“The idea started about five years ago with Rev. Rosie Wynter,” David says. “We were The well-stocked pantry fills a gap for locals struggling to make ends meet Photos Georgia Fox noticing more people sleeping rough, women in the car with their kids, and we wanted to do something about it.”

It took a while to get things off the ground and to convince the town that this was something people really did need. “One of the key things I learnt very quickly,” says Louise “is that even though we are perceived as a very affluent locality, I knew from previous work that if you open up a kitchen cupboard, they could often be bare.” David expressed it quite plainly, saying “it’s the really simple stuff that we just take for granted. It’s a norm for us but it’s not for a lot of our people”.

Homelessness has been a big topic in the Byron Shire. Adding to that the day-to-day struggles of food insecurity can be too much to bear for many, especially those with dependents to care for. There is a strong link between food security and mental health, as studies by the National Library of Medicine show. On Monday mornings between 7-9am, people can come and pick up Help In Your Area (HIYA) vouchers which can be redeemed at Foodworks. This is a joint effort between the Lions Club, the CWA, and the Pantry. “When we meet on Mondays, we always have a counsellor on hand, to offer other avenues of support when needed,” Louise says. “This has become a de facto community hub, which Bangalow has really been missing.”

Between the Pantry and the vouchers, people have discreet options to reach out for the help they may be needing when the hard rains fall.

Getting the Pantry built wasn’t hard at all though, as businesses were happy to chip in. “We never paid for a penny of the materials, which meant we could put that money straight into the food,” says David. “That’s a credit to our community.”

The local community’s generosity has been silently working behind the scenes. “We did a lot of work bringing resources together and finding sponsors and supporters, and we now have ongoing relationships with local businesses and individuals who help us stock this Pantry and keep it full,” says Louise.

In the future, David and Louise hope to integrate the Orange Sky program into Bangalow, a mobile laundromat and shower service, for which they are currently on the wait list. “We’re not out to change the world, we’re just trying to do the best we can for those who need it,” says David.

And as to whether Bangalow needed this or not? “We’re out there restocking every day. There’s a communications board inside to hear what people specifically need, but most of the time we just get messages of thanks, which is wonderful,” says Louise.

Another interesting fact is that you might be helping fund this program without even realising it. David estimates 85% of the funds raised at the Men’s Shed’s Bangalow market stall go directly back into this area of the club. For those who are interested, other forms of help are always welcomed. “We’d love for people to get involved however they can,” Louise and David agree. “If anyone wants to donate time it won’t go to waste; there’s always jobs to do and a need for more product too!”

Another thing that’s always needed is safety. When people are at their most vulnerable, it was important to consider how to make the experience of using the pantry a safe, dignified one. “The lights and security cameras make this a place people can come whenever they need,” David says. “Some people don’t want to be seen, so it was crucial to allow access at night. Making sure people are able to do that has positively impacted our effectiveness.”

“Bangalow is a hidden oasis,” Louise adds. “It’s a safe place for people to come.”

“Another important thing we supply is dog and cat food. It provides such impactful emotional and physical security.” For some, having a pet can be a barrier to entry for emergency accommodation, as they can’t support the animals. Impassioned, David says “they’ll say ‘I couldn’t live without them’, and that’s not just a throwaway line”.

Louise, equally as passionate, says “there are a lot of services down in Byron, but when you’re in a much more delicate situation, it became obvious to us that we were witnessing a different struggle. We’re not here for people to run down and grab a jar of olives when they run out at home.”

This kind of compassion is the backbone of a strong community. It gives a sense of meaning and belonging to a town. David, who has been working with the Men’s Shed since 2018 says “it keeps me getting out of bed in the morning.”

“If we don’t talk about it, it remains hidden,” says Louise. “To be able to get what you need without filling a form just keeps that dignity.”

“They’re more than numbers,” agrees David. “We’re all about the human head and the heart.”

@bangalow.mensshed