However, on Saturday night, August 11, they could now put a face to Daniel Doody as he took on the role of quiz master.

During the night it was revealed how a journalist could so excel at entertaining – in a previous life he had been a singer on a cruise ship.

Principal organiser of the trivia night, Val Little, said it was a huge success with everybody having a great time.

“This was very much due to both Daniel, who was brilliant quiz master, and Rhonda Jones, who was  the quiz setter, ably supported by her daughter Kate and a team of markers,” Ms Little said.

“We also have to thank the staff at the Tarraganda Golf Club, those who made cakes for the auction, Woolworths for its terrific door prize, and also Coles for its donation.

“All proceeds of this great fun night will go toward the restoration of the Old Bega Hospital,” she said. 

There are plans afoot for the Old Bega Hospital to be restored into an arts and cultural centre for the Bega district.

The (old) Old Bega Hospital on Newtown Rd – not to be confused with the now-defunct Bega District Hospital on McKee Drive – was gutted by a fire in 2004.

According to Ms Little, many people who have moved to the area in the last 14 years know little about how vibrant the OBH community and cultural precinct was.

“Nor the hundreds of hours of volunteer work that went into turning it into the community and cultural centre, helped by a small bicentennial grant in 1988,” she added.

“The building is as iconic and culturally important to the people of the Bega Valley and beyond as the Tathra Wharf.”

A public meeting was also held this week to discuss proposals for the restoration of the building as an arts and cultural centre for the region.