Good Bastards - where too much humour is never enough!

Good Bastards is all about having fun, it may not be every ones idea of fun, if your a good bastard then you will enjoy what it's all about. It's base philosophy is Larrikinism, which is the activity of being a larrikin or just simply enjoying watching, reading, or hearing what larrikins get up to.

What's a larrikin? If you're asking that you probably don't come from Australia or New Zealand. It is slang that describes a hard case, a carefree happy go lucky person that either has no hang ups or heaps of them, either way they enjoy life and tend to entertain those around them just by their presence.

As you browse through this site you will learn a lot about Good Bastards and you might even want to apply to get admitted to "The Most Recent Order Of Good Bastard." Most organisation's have "The Most Ancient Order." Good Bastards is different. We are a modern group, hence our naming ourselves the most Recent Order of Good Bastards.

There is even a Good Bastards Day A Good Bastards Oath, a Good Bastards Book and much much more. If you enjoy a few beers, a good yarn, and like to stick it up the establishment in a non-offensive way then you are going to really enjoy Good Bastards.

Good Bastards evolved, it was not a planned project, it just sort of happened. The chief Architect has been Paddy Sweeney. A larrikin in his own right, he had moved from the West Coast of the South Island New Zealand in 1975. Living in Australia since 1981, he reestablished contact with an old school buddy and eternal larrikin, Pat Condon, when he was on holiday in Australia in 1992.

Pat and his son in law, Mike Alford, had built a hut on a West Coast Glacier fed river for a place to stay while they fished the Whitebait season.

As the two rekindled the old days over a pot or two of lung cleansing ale, Pat invited Paddy to come over the next season and sample the hospitality Good Bastard style. The hut soon became known as "The Good Bastards Hilton.

This he did, he was on a tight schedule and only had one day in his home town of Hokitika. So he rang around all his old mates to come down and have a beer and catch up at the Southland Hotel.

This became a regular thing every and was always a great occasion. It eventually got around to coinciding with the Melbourne cup. It soon became known as the GOOD BASTARDS DAY.

Each year the event has gathered a bit more momentum and looks like continuing to do so!

Patron
W P (Bill) Condon

Chairman of the Board
John Hynds

Patron Saint
Saint Pam

Governing Director
Paddy Sweeney

Associate Directors
Russell Nelson
Alan Hurley
Charles Goulding
Phil Corkery
Mike Keenan
Tim & Sue Teen
Cameron Walter
Arch Keenan
Steve Flynn
John Tacon
Kurt & Louise Johannsen
Brian & Veronica Moore
Peter Campion
Dean Turner