I HAVE just been flicking through your Throwback Thursday gallery and so many wonderful memories came flooding back.
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I spent many holidays in the Bega district growing up, mostly attending race meetings at the old Bega racetrack and at the Pambula-Imlay meetings.
The name Des Snooks came up in one of the gallery pictures and I can recall Des doing the tips for the races and had the privilege of meeting him on many occasions.
To talk to him in the flesh and then moments later hear him on the radio was magic to a young boy of about the age of 10 or 11, and is one of the reasons why I still enjoy the magic of radio.
A great gallery and I recognise some of the faces, however putting a name to them has proven difficult for me.
I recall many parts of Bega as a kid and still think of the great times my family and I had in the Valley.
I have early memories of the Smith sisters at the Bega Family Museum opposite the Central Private Hotel which was at the time managed by Leila Dwyer.
What lovely ladies the Smith sisters were and they very proud of the Valley and would tell visitors all about the town.
How they loved a cuppa and I think the old museum may have been a police station at one time.
The picture theatre became a roller skating rink and Taylors Milk Bar had great hamburgers.
Opposite was a convenient store that had a game mounted on the wall that had a lever to control a ping pong ball within.
The TAB on a Saturday was jam-packed full of people, who would wander back and forth from the pubs.
The Bega Swimming Pool was always busy, but watch for the bindies on the front lawn.
The old racetrack was littered with visitors around Christmas time and what an exciting place to be on Cup Day.
I can still recall those sweeping willow trees around the mounting yard that provided relief on a hot day as I watched the likes of Merv Howell and Ivan Thompson ride winners.
As a youngster the Bega RSL Club was the place to meet.
There was snooker, table tennis, indoor bowls, meat raffles, bingo and heaps more and the gentleman on the door was super friendly, although I can't recall his name but he did the job for what seemed like years.
I recall people such as Roy Carroll, Bergy and Pinga, Ozzie, Gordon, Barry and Ronnie.
There was little Barbara, June, Rita, Bill, Mark and Donna, who at some stage worked at the Central.
Surnames such as Ubrihien, Wheatley, Randall, Rose, Kilkelly, Rixon, O'Neill and a gentleman called Mr Strickland that worked with the Smith sisters at the museum.
I can remember when there was no Coles at the back of the Central.
I remember Saturday mornings at the paper shop in the main street.
You almost needed a police officer to direct traffic as the latest news from around the nation arrived in bundles, there would be people everywhere.
I can still remember my family travelling to Tathra and getting oysters, which were a huge treat as we came from Albury six hours inland.
A huge thanks to the team at the Bega District News for the Throwback Thursday gallery.
You have taken me back 40 years and to some of the most memorable times of my life and will now search our family albums for photos.
* ARE YOU ENJOYING OUR THROWBACK THURSDAY PHOTO GALLERIES? DO YOU HAVE SOME MEMORIES TO SHARE AS WELL? Post a comment below or email ben.smyth@fairfaxmedia.com.au