Each week the Bombala Times publishes a photo from years gone by and asks readers if they can tell us anything about the photo.
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Last week’s photo was the cause of much chatting on the Bombala Times Facebook page and even prompted an email from a past player and strapper for Bombala, Merv Gumbleton.
Mr Gumbleton told the Bombala Times that he finished playing football for Bombala in 1976.
“I retired from playing football in 1976 and took up full time strapping for the Bombala Rugby League Football Club.
“Bombala was the first club that I strapped for, and I did two years with them.
“Brian Lawrence was the coach at the time and it was my first year as a full-time strapper.
“I started learning strapping in 1960.
“In 1977 Bombala won the premiership and in 1979 they won the Clayton’s Cup,” Mr Gumbleton said.
“When I was strapping at Tumbarumba, we won reserve grade and at the end of the year I applied for a strapping job at Sarina in Queensland, which I got.
“I had a lot of success in Queensland,” he said.
Mr Gumbleton said that he had retired from strapping this year, after 56 years.
“I am still involved in football and do the gates for my club in Ipswich,” he said.
Last week’s Golden Oldie was of the Bombala first grade team for 1979.
Bombala defeated Bega 14-2 and in the same year the Bombala Reserve Grade defeated Bega 17-12.
The 1979 Bombala Rugby League Club first grade premiers were:
Back row is Claude Thornell, Peter Duffel, Colin Ryan, Paul Elliott, Terry Perkins, Doug Cameron, John Ingram, Stephen Reed and Darryl Merchant. The man in the crowd was Eric Elton.
Front row is Thomas Halligan, Gary Moreing, Barry Tanzer, Graham Rutherford and Tim Stewart.
This week’s Golden Oldie was supplied by former Bombala strapper Merv Gumbleton and it is of the Bombala Rugby League Football Club first grade premiers from 1977.
Merv Gumbleton is pictured first on the left in the middle row.
The Bombala Times is asking readers if they recognise anyone else in the 1977 premiership photo?
If you do please contact Bombala Times journalist Jeanne Medlicott on 0439 534 666 or email jeanne.medlicott@fairfaxmedia.com.au.
The details about this week’s photo will be published in next week’s Bombala Times on Wednesday, July 31.
Next week’s Golden Oldie will also be a photo that was taken around the time that Merv Gumbleton was strapping for Bombala.
The photo pictures Mr Gumbleton and three other men at a Bombala Rugby League Football Club presentation night.