A rare look inside the Rebels’ closed event, as police sit camped outside

Inside the venue, old-school rock and roll music was thumping as beer flowed freely while, to one side, caterers had steaks, sausages and onions sizzling. Jimmy Barnes’ brother, John Swan OAM, was booked to play. Women in bikinis and heels were serving drinks. On Friday night, the event had a first-night edgy bonhomie, a bit like a fully gender-skewed old-school reunion.