The traditional backyard Cracker Night, once a highlight of the year, is long gone, a Topical reader laments.
On June 7, 1986, cracker night was held for the last time in NSW.Nowadays, if you want to have a Cracker Night you will need to make the trip up to the Northern Territory where it’s still legal on Territory Day on July 1 or to Tasmania for your Cracker Night in May.
“A general Cracker Night, called by one critic a ‘free for all’, was ultimately deemed too dangerous – personal injuries, fires, including rubbish bin fires, grassfires and vehicle fires.
“Nowadays it’s illegal to buy, possess or discharge fireworks in NSW unless you have a pyrotechnician or single-use licence – penalties range from on the spot fines of $1000 up to $38,500, or 12 months gaol plus a fine.
“We older generations have fond memories of holding sparklers, letting off sky rockets and Catherine wheels and amassing stockpiles of bungers – Tom Thumbs, penny bungers and the seriously powerful double bungers – weeks ahead of the big night.
“The fireworks carried helpful advice such as ‘do not hold in your hand’ after lighting or ‘retire when fuse is lit’ and ‘for outside use only’.
“There were undoubtedly injuries and dangers – penny rockets were aimed at people, big rockets could fall off their launch pad and head for the spectators, bungers were recklessly used in letterboxes and in garbage bins with devastating effect.
“But Cracker Night was a family fun night in the backyard accompanied by a barbecue, but on balance, prudence and safety prevailed and crackers were banned, injuries and fire risk reduced and pet dogs, usually tied up in advance of the night, freed from their annual terror.
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What ever happened to Cracker Night?
May 12, 2024
The traditional backyard Cracker Night, once a highlight of the year, is long gone, a Topical reader laments.
On June 7, 1986, cracker night was held for the last time in NSW.Nowadays, if you want to have a Cracker Night you will need to make the trip up to the Northern Territory where it’s still legal on Territory Day on July 1 or to Tasmania for your Cracker Night in May.
“A general Cracker Night, called by one critic a ‘free for all’, was ultimately deemed too dangerous – personal injuries, fires, including rubbish bin fires, grassfires and vehicle fires.
“Nowadays it’s illegal to buy, possess or discharge fireworks in NSW unless you have a pyrotechnician or single-use licence – penalties range from on the spot fines of $1000 up to $38,500, or 12 months gaol plus a fine.
“We older generations have fond memories of holding sparklers, letting off sky rockets and Catherine wheels and amassing stockpiles of bungers – Tom Thumbs, penny bungers and the seriously powerful double bungers – weeks ahead of the big night.
“The fireworks carried helpful advice such as ‘do not hold in your hand’ after lighting or ‘retire when fuse is lit’ and ‘for outside use only’.
“There were undoubtedly injuries and dangers – penny rockets were aimed at people, big rockets could fall off their launch pad and head for the spectators, bungers were recklessly used in letterboxes and in garbage bins with devastating effect.
“But Cracker Night was a family fun night in the backyard accompanied by a barbecue, but on balance, prudence and safety prevailed and crackers were banned, injuries and fire risk reduced and pet dogs, usually tied up in advance of the night, freed from their annual terror.