Rainy weather last Friday and Saturday didn’t dampen the spirit among a group of Gunnedah Bulldogs rugby league players from the club’s ‘golden era’ of the 1980s.
A contingent from Gunnedah’s 1983, 1984 and 1985 grand final victories enjoyed a get-together at Club Gunnedah last Friday and Saturday, after their previous reunion was 25 years earlier when they had dinner at the local golf club.
Some of this year’s attendees were based in local towns including Gunnedah and Kelvin, while others travelled from Queensland, Sydney and various NSW coastal areas.
The men enjoyed a few drinks while discussing their current lives as well as rugby league from the 1980s through to today.
The Redcliffe Dolphins provided common ground for several of the men, who played for the Dolphins as well as Gunnedah.
Gunnedah’s captain-coach in 1984 and 1985, John Lennan, said some of the men hadn’t met for 25 years or more, yet found it very easy to “pick up where they left off”.
“It’s just how it is, it’s just like yesterday,” Lennan said.
“Lots of memories come flooding back.
“You only need a little trigger, and you get reminded of things.
“Everyone’s interested to hear what others have been up to, family-wise and job-wise.
“It’s good to see how successful they’ve all been, in different ways.”
Lennan said premiership success wasn’t just about winning a grand final nor the players who took part on the day.
“It’s the whole club,” he said.
