Hundreds show up to bare their bums at the Ghan to celebrate 20th year anniversary
From veterans who attended the mooning in 2004, to toddlers yet to utter their first word, hundreds braved the rain to bare their bums, at the Ghan. See pictures of the Territory tradition.
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Hundreds of people have shown up to Livingstone to bare their bum at the passing Ghan train in celebration of the first mooning of the popular passenger locomotive 20 years ago.
From veterans who attended the mooning in 2004, to kids pulled from school early, to toddlers yet to utter their first word, people were willing to brave the rain and bare their arse, at the likely unsuspecting passengers of the Ghan.
At 4.07pm it all went down, the massive train flying past with its horn blaring and hundreds of people trackside sticking their bare butts in the air.
Original Ghan mooner and 2024 organiser, Mooch from Livingston, said it was wild to see so many people show up to the 20th year celebration.
“We only put a little tarp up and only did a little bit of clearing,” she said.
“It’s turning out to be quite big, it’s very funny and exciting. We are a bit… mad out this way and like to do different things.”
Side-by-side, or bare arse by bare arse, with Mooch in 2004 was Ralph (Narelle), who put together and designed the anniversary singlets that were selling like hotcakes at the site
The local from “just over there” taking over art design duties for the 10 and 20 year moonings after “Maggot” drew up the 2004 edition.
“Maggot did the original one (poster), that got slapped up all around town and the whole thing went viral,” she said.
“He ended up throwing his hands in the air, and then Moochy got on to it and decided we would have a T-shirt so she asked me to do the 10th anniversary and now this one.
“I just wanted something really typical Territorian you know, so I have used the old NT logo, the brolga and the sun, I have the train and the big (NT) flag.”
So, what inspired the original mooning in 2004?
“The train was coming and a mate of ours whose 20 acres backs on to here, he just watched it all progress (the construction of the Ghan railway),” she said.
“He decided we are going to moon this bugger and that’s what we did.”
Mooch said there was also meant to be some special guests on the train who they wanted to give a proper welcome to, with “400 odd people” showing up on that original day.
“We heard that our chief minister and the prime minister were meant to be on the Ghan,” she said.
Mooch said she wasn’t sure if there will be a 2034 gathering, but it’s also not something she could rule out.
“I don’t know about a 30-year one,” she said “But I hope somebody does (carry the tradition on).”
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Originally published as Hundreds show up to bare their bums at the Ghan to celebrate 20th year anniversary
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