The Wynnum Manly Bugler Dennis Ehmer plays the charge at the 1982 Grand Final
Local Wynnum resident Dennis Ehmer had a different way of firing up the Wynnum Manly Seagulls when he made his way to Kougari Oval for home games, in the shape of his trusty Bugle.
Dennis would provide the crowd and the players with the firing up they needed, from the famous Wynnum Manly outdoor drinking area known as the Chook Pen today. Dennis would play ‘The Charge” on his bugle as the Seagulls went on the attack in the opposition’s red zone.
When we asked Dennis what it was like to follow the Seagulls in the 80’s Dennis said “It was part of the lifestyle living in Wynnum, I had been supporting the Seagulls all my life since I was a kid, I played juniors for Wynnum Manly and the French brothers also played in my year group.” Gene Miles was Dennis’ hero throughout those years of following the Seagulls.
On Grand Final day in 1982 Dennis said, “We all got dressed up in our Wynnum Manly gear, I prepared my bugle with Wynnum Manly streamers coming from it and we made our way to Lang Park by train to Roma Street.” “I remember having my kids on my shoulders during the game, it was a great day which finished at the clubhouse, hardly anyone turned up to work on Monday.”
Dennis still resides in the Wynnum Manly district and said he would never forget those great days.
FOOTNOTE: Dennis was once banished from the Lang Park grandstand by police for playing his bugle. Undaunted Dennis jumped the fence and continued his support from the outer. He probably would have been welcome in the stand on the other side of the ground, as the Wynnum Police local Inspector Merv Hoppner was watching the game from there.
Sorty Source: Paul Comber
Photo Source: The Wynnum Herald – September, 1982.
