The Nar Nar Goon Pub

Another true story, but I might have taken a few liberties.

 

 

There’s a tiny town in Australia,

With a really silly name.

I’d like to describe an incident

That gave it national fame.

In ‘Nar Nar Goon’ it all took place

In nineteen seventy two.

They talk about it to this day,

The night the old pub blew.

 

The gas co. put in a heater,

Their plumbers packed up and went

They said 'Sign here, coz we're all done,

The Invoice will be sent.'

The publican turned the heater on full,

The place was as warm as toast.

It was the largest crowd they ever had,

And the biggest profit they'd grossed.

 

But the patrons noticed the smell of gas

And told the barman of course.

When he closed the door he thought it time

To try and find the source.

He followed his nose to  the cellar,

Where the pong was really strong.

He searched high and low to no avail.

But he knew there was something wrong.

 

At the top of the cellar stairs

He stopped to turn out the light.

He flicked the switch and up it went,

As that gas leak did ignite.

The pub was blown to smithereens

Reduced to match sticks and splinters.

So much for that bloody heater

That was meant to warm their winters.

 

The blast was felt many miles away,

Broken windows all over  town.

The saddest thing  they’d ever seen,

Every drinking man with a frown.

But what of that poor old barman?

He survived that mighty blast.

Dazed he crawled out from the rubble,

His life had just flashed past.

 

He'd had discomfort all day long

Suffering a dose of colic.

By closing time the pressure intense

His condition nearing  chronic.

As they helped him stand on his own two  feet,

Not a moan or hint of bitchin.

He mumbled ‘Thank the Lord I never let that go,

..Near the wife or in the kitchen.’

 

 

 

Author's Note

Hey, it is a real place, I live there.

Reviews

[Woody]

sad but you managed to look at the funny side of it. well done. I like your nice touch of humour.

[richom]

Very entertaining, suspenseful, and, as it turns out, educational poem. Not being Australian I, of course, never read of the incident, but you have immortalized it here. Excellent flow resulting in easy reading.
It certainly wasn't entertaining to the residents involved, but the your telling of the story is.

[Keith]

Thanks again Richard, the new pub has all of the photos on the wall. I am trying to track down the old barman, apparently he is still alive and living a few hours from Nar Nar Goon now.

[Barbara Walker]

What an hilarious name! Sure glad the bartender was okay. You wrote this up well!

[Keith]

And we have the towns of Bunyip and Koo Wee Rup near by. Thanks again for calling in.

[wordwarrior]

LOL this made me laugh, although I shouldn't laugh at others' misfortunes, but you ending did it Keith, so it's your fault haha
As all of your poems I have read, the story, rhyme and flow make for a wonderful mix of reading.
Such a great tale told. especially being a true tale.
Loved it. Thanks for pointing it my way! Wish this site had emoticons. I'd send a huge smile!

You have the air of Patterson and Lawson about you!

[Keith]

Now that comment about Patterson and Lawson just made my day! No greater compliment, thank you so much WW. They were definitely the source of my inspiration. I think 'Mulga Bills's Bicycle' and 'The man from Ironbark' are sorts of tales that I enjoy the most.

[wordwarrior]

Oh I love the Man from Ironbark!
...murder, bloody murder, yelled the man from ironbark!... after having his throat almost cut lol.
Yup I can see that inspiration in your writing Keith!

[Keith]

Ah yes, I grew up on that stuff! Not sure if you have ever driven up north in the NT or even in WA, but if you have you might enjoy 'Deadly Encounter' http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/keithro/1179911/
Also more misadventure in 'Golden Beach' http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/keithro/1184595/

[wordwarrior]

Thank you! I will check them out!

[Lydia Shutter]

You must have a great disposition to be able to tell us such delightful stories from your life, Keith! Perhaps you embellished a bit, but I have to say, you had me roaring with laughter! Your rhyming is, as always, impressive. Lydi**

[Keith]

Thanks again Lydia, glad you got a laugh at the demise of our old Pub. When you ready for more nonsense, maybe take a peek at Golden Beach another true but embarrassing story. Thanks for the comment on rhyming, I do work hard at it, still working on the meter.

[Frieda P]

What a delightful read, better yet, since it's a true story, but you added spark to it!

[Keith]

Thank you Frieda, this one beeged a poem to be written.

[Frieda P]

And you did it so well, my pleasure...

[Tom]

It took such a stupendous explosion to relieve the publican and he seemed grateful indeed !

Another great piece of iconic Aussie legacy, written with such equal Aussie panache !

[Keith]

Thanks Tom, thats gotta be the first time I've heard Aussie and panache in the same sentence, We're more known as larrakins, as hat we proudly wear, a lot of Irish in our blood you see.

[Tom]

Would charisma fit more comfortably ?

[Keith]

Mate, I'll take them all, they don't have to be comfortable. .. A test draw, we used to hate them, now we reckon its good.

[Tom]

Like I've said, don't be too down on your national side, your still better than us at cricket ! But watch out for world cup in 2015 ! We've qualified and we're on the plane to Aussie land!!

[MsJewel]

A wonderful story/poem - I had no idea this is a real place. Wonderful writing my friend. :) Julie

[Keith]

Thank you Julie, we like to think we live at the 'flash' end of town in Nar Nar Goon North

[Dr. Wood ?]

tremendous tale my friend...I attempted the Aussie accent as I read thru it......But being a faraway Brit, I kept adding the odd 'Fair Dinkum'

Great stuff..Why can't the English come up with such cool names for their towns?

[Keith]

Thanks Doc. But ' fair bloody dinkum', is easier to say.

[Dr. Wood ?]

true mate. I suppose it all comes from watching watered down Crocodile Dundee...I'll do me best to keep up in future

[Keith]

Yeah that works, I went to the Paul Hogan (Croc Dundee) school of elocution. You might like to know that neighboring towns include Bunyip & Koo Wee Rup. A bunyip is a scary mythical Aboriginal creature, no idea the origins of the others.

[David Lewis Paget]

A glorious tale, strange that I don't remember it, but I was in the air force at the time, at Williamstown NSW, and no doubt distracted. It's these little potted histories that deserve to be commemorated in poetry, it keeps the tales alive. Good one.

[Keith]

Thanks David. I read it the next day on the front pages of the Melbourne Sun. That image of the barman being helped stuck in my mind, now I live in Nar Nar Goon and those clippings are framed on the wall of the pub. This poem is going on a poster to sit besdie the clippings.

[Keith]

I flew in/out of Newcastle every week last year, the williamtown airbase shares the runway. Sometimes waiting for my flight the F18s were doing circuits, awesome sight when they take off with afterburners glowing.

[David Lewis Paget]

I haven't been there for years, Keith. When I was there, they were just retiring the North American Super Sabres, and I worked on Mirages, 76 Sqn and 2OCU.