This was my highlight for the year as a kid growing up. Even more so than Christmas. It was the thrill and awe of it all. My parents would pay for some fireworks but us kids would save up our pocket money for months to buy the crackers and skyrockets. Then a few days before the big night, Dad would help us kids make the bonfire behind our back fence near the large open drain. Many of the neighbourhood kids and some of their parents would join us.
After the event there were numerous mailboxes, ant hills or various containers that were exploded for thrills. And there was the odd occasion when a cracker exploded in the hand and I felt the burn for a few days. ~ Geoff Allemond
Remember, remember, the fifth of November...
In the olden days — well, the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s — Australia celebrated bonfire night on November 5. In the late ’70s the sale of firecrackers was banned for prevention of misuse, personal injury and bushfires.
Stacks were prepared weeks ahead all over Shepparton, in places such as parks and schools, and all the kids in the local neighbourhood came on the big night, laden with crackers, for the lighting of the big bonfire. ~ Margaret Marlow
A few Facebook memories of cracker night:
Wilma Marten
On cracker nights Dad would bring us home a five shilling bag of crackers each and the bags were huge. Off we’d go around to the fire near Newman’s that we had all helped to build that day. And what fun we had. Twice a year. Guy Fawkes Day. And another cracker night earlier in the year, can’t remember when or why.
Helen Jones
We’d do throw downs behind older people. My, my, we were naughty kids. These days kids don’t know what they missed — fingers, eyes etc.
Jan and Peter Braham
Penny bungers. And the ones that spun around.
Margaret Buckingham
Catherine wheels were fun.
Geoff Whitfield
If you knew anybody in an orchard it was a real bonus. They kept the pruned branches for the year until November. The bonfire was huge.
Noela Wilson
I can remember the bonfire in Fairleys' paddock, now Regent St.
Jenny Behrends
Remember having the night in the Gillespies’ paddock with the tom thumbs, penny bungers and other fireworks. We used to have so much fun, great memories.
Ros Loffel
I remember them, but back then too many were getting hurt from them.
Lesley Chaplin
My dad and uncle used to make a bonfire for all the cousins on our farm at Numurkah. Great excitement.
Jonathon Jecs
My dad loved blowing up mailboxes. It was called fun! Today it’s just called terrorism!
Karen Groves
I remember Dad taking us to Toyworld to buy firecrackers.
Christine Perri
Colin Croxford and myself would collect stuff all year for our bonfire.
Lisa Muntz
And burns were made better by rubbing butter on the wound. Fun times!
Christine Daly Welch
Every year we had a huge neighbourhood bonfire in the middle of Ware Crt off Swallow St. Great fun!
Trish Marie
We had a huge one every year on the farm at North Murchison. All the neighbours came. Great fun.
Evan Roche
We used to make a big one in what was the GV Centre car park in Bowenhall St.
Dorothy Schulz
For many years our neighbourhood bonfire in Kyabram was on vacant blocks in Richard St. The bonfire took weeks to build. Everyone took advantage of putting broken furniture and other burnable rubbish on it. Great memories. Loved the colourful rockets.
Sherree Fisher
Loved these nights. Family and neighbour inclusion. I don’t even know my neighbours across the road now. So sad.
Ross Harman
Best times. Whole neighbourhood came together to build and help burn a bonfire!
Heloise Campbell
Yes, and for days afterwards terrified dogs and cats all around Canberra would disappear. I remember the horrid boys throwing penny bungers at me as I went to school. They were worse than magpies.
Margaret Marlow
I remember a big bonfire at Billy Goat Flat.
Nick Wills
Sky rockets, penny bungers, tom thumbs and flower pots. I enjoyed this night more than Christmas.
Colin Knight
They used to have a monster bonfire night down at the Mooroopna Racecourse every year. The whole town would turn out for the fireworks. Loved it as a kid.
Robert Muston
Someone placed a string of penny bungers (alight) in my school bag a week before Year 11 final exams. Burnt half my homework and notes, and frightened the crap out of everyone.
Nicole Misurelli
I remember bonfire night — it used to bring the whole neighbourhood of kids together in Rowville. They’re still doing it in England — we've swapped it for Halloween; American custom.
Liz Stephen
St George’s Rd State School bonfire night was great.
Jeanette Doherty
Many letter boxes suffered from penny bungers.
Merle Forster
The Boulevard river bank cracker night with bonfires along the stretch. 1950s. Remember it well!