NH3 HISTORY

The start of Newcastle Hash

NH3 was founded on the 8th of June 1977 by Alan "Tails" Taylor who previously had run Hash with Hong Kong Hash.

TOF stands for "The Old Fella" which is pretty self explanatory when you take a look at him. He was designed in 1981 by "MR SMART" as the club logo for NH3. The artwork was done by Norm ("Third Degree") Fairbairn. Third Degree operates out of "Fairbairn Artscreens" Ph:(02) 4952 2089

Newcastle H3 Grand Masters

The following is a collection of inconsequential data on the previous (read forgotten) Grand Masters (GMs) of NH3 for your enjoyment and edification which, no doubt you will think a total waste of the few brain cells you have left. However as I don't want reflect on why I am sitting on the ice each Hash night, I pay homage here to their reign.

Newcastle H3 Anniversary Runs

The following table provides details of the many memorable anniversary Hash runs held by NH3.

Newcastle Hash Historical Library

Our Hashtorian has amassed a fine collection of historical documents pertaining to Hashing with NH3 and around the world for your edification and perusal. See him if you want to check out any of the fine reading and perving material.

Hurricane Hash

Lake Macquarie hash was instigated on Monday the 4th of August 1980 by "WIK-BAR" (later named "MUNCHER"), who, after a night of drinking with the Newcastle Hash House Harriers, decided to start his own hash. After gathering everyone at Warners Bay Park on bank holiday night, he told everyone it was a big joke. This big joke has now been running on Bank Holiday night only, every year since (the first Monday in August).  The symbol of Lake Macquarie hash was a hand reaching out of the lake holding a glass of beer. This was later changed to a Hurricane lamp in honour of "HURRICANE" who drowned whilst crossing the lake on his way home after a hash run. The GM is chosen after the run and spends the ensuing year running raffles and other fund raising events to make enough money for the next run. Contacts are as for Newcastle Hash.

Newcastle Full Moon Hash

The NFMH3 was founded on 20 December 2000 by Abdul as a highly illegal but in the end, successful means of getting heaps of free piss (beer) at InterHash 2000 which was held in Hobart Tasmania. As the Grand Master of this club he was entitled to attend the Grand Masters breakfast and other special events. Most of which had free drinks and food. More on this lunartic club can be found on NFMH3 website. The club runs monthly (a bit like the trouble and strife) at 6:00 PM on or near the full moon. The runs for this club are published on the Newcastle H3 run sheet which can be accessed by clicking the Run Sheet link at the left.

The First Hash

The "Hash House"

The "Hash House" was the mildly derogative nickname given (for its unimaginative, monotonous food) to the Royal Selangor Club Chambers in Kuala Lumpur, by the British Civil Servants and businessmen who lived and dined there between the two World Wars, when it had become something of a social centre of the times. Situated close to and behind the present Selangor Club, its function changed after independence and it became an office for the Water Board.

Sadly, the "Hash House" was demolished around 1964, to make way for a new highway, Jalan Kuching, although the buildings housing the original stables and servants quarters are still in existence.

The Ancient Harriers

The idea of harriers chasing paper was not new to Malaya in 1938, as there had been such clubs before in Kuala Lumpur and Johore Bahru, and there were clubs in existence in Malacca and Ipoh (the Kinta Harriers) at the time. "Horse" Thomson (one of the KLH3 founding fathers) recalled being invited on a run, shortly after his arrival in Johore Bahru in 1932, which chased a paper trail and followed basic Hash rules every week but was so magically organized that it had no name. The club flourished in the early 1930's but is believed to have died out around 1935.

The other branch of our ancestry comes from Malacca, where A.S.("G") Gispert was posted in 1937 and joined a club called the Springgit Harriers, who also operated weekly under Hash rules and are believed to have been formed in 1935. Some months later, "Torch" Bennett visited him and came as a guest on a few runs.

The Hash House Harriers

By 1938, "G" Gispert, "Horse" Thompson,and "Torch" Bennett had all moved to KL and, joined by Cecil Lee, Eric Galvin and H.M. Doig, they founded their own club, following the rules they had learnt elsewhere. Gispert is credited with proposing the name "Hash House Harriers" when the Registrar of Societies required the gathering to be legally registered. Other early members included Frank Woodward, Philip Wickens, Lew Davidson, John Wyatt-Smith and M. C. Hay.

After 117 runs, KLH3 was forced into temporary hibernation by the arrival of the Japanese. Sadly, Gispert did not live to see his extraordinary creation revive, being killed in the fighting on Singapore island on February 11th, 1942.

Post-war Rebirth

It took nearly 12 months after the war for the survivors of the HHH to reassemble. Bennett put in a claim for the lost hash mugs, a tin bath and two old bags from Government funds, and run No.1 was a trot around the racecourse in August 1946.

The Hash Spreads Out

Strangely, it took another 16 years for the second H3 chapter to be founded, in Singapore in 1962, followed by Kuching in 1963, Brunei, Kota Kinabalu and Ipoh in 1964, Penang and Malacca in 1965.
Perth, Australia was the first "overseas" Chapter, formed in 1967. Even in 1974, when KLH3 had run No.1500, the HHH was only 35 chapters worldwide. Now the Hash world has over 1200 active chapters, in some 160 countries, and this despite the total absence of any central organization.
We are unique !

This article was written in 1992 by Mike Lyons from research material prepared by John Duncan.

The Mother Hash

The "Mother Hash" is the name traditionally given to Kuala Lumpur Hash (KLH3).

InterHash

Since first held in KL 1978, InterHash has brought Hashers together from all around the globe every two years. The first attempts at an InterHash get-together were the K.L. 1,000th post-war run in 1966, and the spectacular 1,500th run in 1974, when attendance was something over 300. The first genuine InterHash, in 1978 in Hong Kong broke new ground, with an attendance of around 800.

Subsequent InterHashes were in Kuala Lumpur in 1980 (1,200 hashers), Jakarta in 1982 (1,300 hashers), Sydney, Australia in 1984 (1,654 hashers), Pattaya, Thailand in 1986 (2,143 hashers), Bali, Indonesia in 1988 (2,450 hashers), Manila, Phillipines in 1990 (1,400 hashers), Phuket, Thailand in 1992 (2,500 hashers), Rotorua, New Zealand in 1994 (3,650 hashers), Lymassol, Cyprus in 1996 (4500 hashers), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (the Homecoming Diamond Celebration) in 1998 (5800 hashers), Hobart, Tasmania in 2000 (4000 hashers), Goa, India in 2002 (3500 hashers), Cardiff, Wales 2004 (4500), Chiangmai Thailand 2006 (TBA hashers). The next InterHash will be in Perth Australia in 2008.

NashHash

Every alternating year from InterHash, NashHash is held in Australia. Large numbers of Australian and International hashers gather to wreak havoc on an unsuspecting public and put a serious dent in the local beer supply. Nash Hash 2007 was in the corridors of corruption in Canberra ACT.  Website is www.aussienashhash2007.com

Nash Hash 2009 will be in the Far North of Queensland in Cairns from the 1st to the 3rd of May 2009.