Pics from the Past | Marbles, mates and memories

I am not sure how that came about, but it did every year.

We would gather at play times, lunch and even after school on the dirt area and find a space for our preferred competitions — rings or liners.

I was pretty hopeless at flicking marbles, so liners was my preferred game.

We all played for keeps and there were very few hassles. It was good times indeed.

Lost Shepparton Facebook comments:

Len Ivey

I’m pretty sure playing marbles was seasonal at Gowrie St in the ’60s.

It required great skill and was serious competition, playing circles as per the picture, trackers and other variants.

Taking home your marble winnings if fortunate enough, and the occasional dust-up was inevitable with disputes.

Then all of a sudden, it would cease and another interest or sport would take over until marble season came around again.

Good fun and no adult supervision involved or required.

Chez Wilson

I remember my school (in NSW) used to have the circles painted in the playgrounds specially for marbles.

Marble alley as we called it ran the whole length of the playground perimeter.

We would run out of class as soon as the bell went for ‘play’ lunch, as it was called, just to get the best marble spot.

Jody Donaldson

I remember playing marbles there too, but it was the ’80s.

Ernie Hobbs

Hey, there’s a kid there playing left-handed — or was that a handicap because he was so darned good?

Trevor Newman

Was doing the same thing at Gowrie St about 10 years later.

Betty Oliver

What a great game for all ages and used to be on carpet in the lounge.

Allan Bush,

Great fun.

The bigger the ring, the more players.

How did we keep track of whose shot it was?

Linda Morley

I loved playing marbles, just to beat the boys.

Rick Mclean

Ripple sole shoes were the go! Just walk through the ring, picking up all the marbles.

Glenise Gooden

That was our entrainment, loved playing marbles.

Tim Linehan

They were great days, playing marbles.

Get the tom bowler out and wreck the centre.

Geoff Allemand is an amateur photographer and Lost Shepparton Facebook page admin. Please share your Pics from the Past at pastpics@mmg.com.au