Set For Life: The art and majesty of Uncle Badger Bates

If you’re ever gifted the good fortune to head out for a game of two-up with Uncle Badger Bates on a Friday night in Broken Hill you’ll see firsthand the magic he holds, and most of all how much Unc has in the tank. I’ve been privileged to do this several times during visits to my Barkandji homelands, and I’ve almost always struggled to stay ‘til stumps. Not so for Uncle Badger whose passion for the spin and his never-ending energy to talk and laugh and tell incredible stories puts all us ‘young ones’ to shame. Hosted by the famous Palace Hotel, two-up is one of the many quirks of my Mum’s hometown, being the only place in Australia where this game is played legally every Friday night, year-round: The Wild West.