Central Coast Hash History

The story begins in late 1978 when Paul “Flash” Taylor had finished playing Rugby League with Cronulla (200 + games) and had moved to the Central Coast. Apart from his football “Flash” had a keen interest in Scuba diving so once settled on the Central Coast he went to Cairns for a diving holiday.

While on holiday he was invited to have a run with a group that called themselves the “HASH HOUSE HARRIERS”. This run took him in and around the forests and trails of the Atherton Tablelands. The concept he thought was just great with the runs reasonably short, non competitive, a lot of fun finishing with a few beers. It had a real social atmosphere. On his return to the coast he brought the HASH back with him.

At the time “Flash” was the coach of The Entrance Rugby League team and he knew that the HASH concept would appeal to some of the players as well as some of the members of the F.D.I.A. (Fittest Drunks In Australia) organisation to which he belonged.

The groundwork was done and anyone interested was invited to attend the inaugural run of the CENTRAL COAST HASH HOUSE HARRIERS. On the 12th of November 1979 this run was set from the E.D.S.A.C. Stadium at Bateau Bay. The runners at this run were: Gary Vinten, Robbie Welsmore, Paul Dixon, Greg Murdoch, Ngaire and Rod Bruce, Ian Rice and Paul Taylor.

Up until 1981 there was no committee so for the first 15 months “FLASH” was Grandmaster, set the runs, brought the BBQ and sausages for the nosh (the ladies brought the salad) and wrote the newsletter.

In the early days the runs were set in the traditional way that was with shredded paper. Each week he would visit stationers and any other outlet that used shredded paper so he could set Monday’s run, many I believe were set from the back of a motor bike. After a while the paper trails came to an end due to complaints that the Central Coast was turning white. After the shredded paper came to an end, coloured tags were nailed to telegraph poles and trees but the council soon stopped this. Today trails are set with flour in the shape of an arrow.

The Central Coast chapter grew and a Committee was formed. In a little more than a year as many as 60 would turn up for the weekly HASH run. Since 1979 more than 2000 people have had a run or walk with the club of which over 500 have been issued with a number (having done over 20 runs).

The Central Coast Hash House Harriers has been a very successful club. In 1987 they hosted a national event known as Aussie Nash Hash and in 2005 they co-hosted the same event again.

In 2023 we were given the opportunity to host the event once again. Unfortunately, we had to cancel due to lack of registrations. Why this was I’m not sure but one reason I have no doubt were all the false negative comments on social media that turned Hashers off.  

Some of the members have travelled the country (Aussie Nash Hash) and the World (Interhash, New Zealand Nash Hash, Pan Asia Hash, Eurohash and UK Nash Hash).

Today the average pack is around 30-40 of which 15 would be walkers. The objective is still the same as it was all those years ago and that is:

         “To provide an interesting, non-competitive run or walk through varied countryside with slower runners finishing not more than 15 minutes after the faster ones and with no one getting lost”.

The founder of the HASH HOUSE HARRIERS “G” did not see the results of his creation; fortunately “FLASH” our founder did and was a member for 25 years until his untimely death in October 2004.