A tradition of heads or tails

A UNIQUE Anzac tradition legally came alive across the country on Tuesday, including on the forecourt of Creswick-Smeaton RSL.

At 12.30pm on Anzac Day, members of the broader RSL community got together for some games of two-up, coordinated by Creswick Sub-Branch senior vice-president Paul McGuinness.

He described it as a simple game of chance, with two pennies and piece of wood.

“You bet for two heads, or two tails,” he said. “You have several goes at that, and in my particular game, you get five goes, so if you through odds five times, you’re out, and I get your money, because I’m the house.

“If you throw your heads, you win. The original rules from the First World War were really complicated and heavily set in favour of the house.

“It was a way of getting guys together to relax when they were out of line, that’s it, as every gambling game is, and they’d set it up wherever they could.

“All they needed was a spare space and a ring, which could be made of people. You didn’t even need a kip, which is the piece of wood. If you didn’t have that, you could use fingers to throw the pennies in the air.

“Now, it’s a way to blow off steam, and it’s carrying on a tradition of serviceman that’s been around forever.”

Creswick-Smeaton RSL associate member Jodie Mold helped to run the games, and said she enjoys the atmosphere.

“It’s very Aussie, it’s steeped in history, and it’s a thing we love to continue doing once a year,” she said.

“Once we’ve had the sombre part of Anzac Day, with the morning services, this is a nice way to let off steam.

“Our emotions have been high in the morning, and in the afternoon this is a fun way to continue a tradition.”