Greg ‘Nashy’ Nash has been running the ANZAC Day Two-Up School at the pub, the Bowlo, and now the Showgrounds, for more than two decades. Byron Leeworthy finds out more.
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.