𝐄𝐏 | 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 with Oberon Polocrosse Club
After several years away from hosting their own carnival, Oberon Polocrosse Club is making a welcome return to the carnival calendar in 2026.
While the club last hosted a carnival in 2019 as a joint event with Orange Polocrosse Club, this year's event marks the return of a standalone Oberon carnival – something the committee is excited about, while acknowledging it will be a learning curve.
Like many clubs across Australia, Oberon faced significant challenges following the drought years. With many members involved in farming, polocrosse horses were turned out as families focused on managing difficult seasonal conditions. The impact of COVID also contributed to declining participation and carnival attendance.
Despite these challenges, the club remained active through practices and continued to keep the Oberon spirit alive. As family commitments took priority for many members, the club patiently waited for the right opportunity to rebuild.
That opportunity arrived with strong encouragement from fellow Western Districts clubs and the postponement of the Nationals, creating a gap in the calendar that Oberon stepped forward to fill.
With the club's home grounds currently unable to facilitate a carnival, the event will be held at the fantastic Dunedoo grounds. Dunedoo generously offered their facilities, providing multiple quality fields along with excellent canteen and bar amenities.
The return wouldn't have been possible without the support of the wider polocrosse community. Special thanks go to Dunedoo, Mendooran and Gulgong clubs, along with the many Western Districts clubs who have offered guidance and assistance throughout the planning process. Oberon's own members have also embraced the challenge, with every playing member contributing to help get the carnival off the ground.
𝐀 𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐇 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘
Oberon Polocrosse Club dates back to the 1950s. Originally playing in green and white colours, the club adopted its now-famous black and gold colours during the 1990s to reflect the town colours.
The club has always been strongly family-oriented, with several current players representing the third generation of their families to play for Oberon.
𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐃 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒
Recent years have seen some exciting milestones for the club, including regularly fielding teams in B Grade competition. Club President Victoria has also earned selection in the NSW team for the postponed Darwin Nationals, while several members have represented the Western Districts Zone.
𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄
The club hopes the carnival will showcase what polocrosse is all about – good sportsmanship, strong club spirit and enjoyable competition.
When asked what they're most looking forward to, the answer was simple:
"𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯, 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦."
𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒
Oberon Polocrosse Club would like to thank their major sponsor Sprout Agribusiness, along with Juliette Enterprises, Elders Emms Mooney, Nutrien Ag Solutions Bathurst, ASAR Stock Horses, Rangers ASH & Kelpie Stud and MGA Insurance for their valued support.
𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄
The return of the carnival represents more than just a weekend of polocrosse. For Oberon, it's the beginning of a new chapter.
The club hopes this event will become a regular fixture on the calendar and help broaden the committee into the future. As a family-run club, they're committed to ensuring Oberon remains part of the sport for years to come.
Their message to the polocrosse community is simple:
"𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘣𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘣𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘴 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦."
Having travelled far and wide to support carnivals across multiple zones over the past two seasons, Oberon is now inviting the polocrosse community to support their return.
After all, every carnival matters, and every club plays a role in keeping our sport thriving.
Welcome back, Oberon Polocrosse Club. We can't wait to see the first chukka underway this coming weekend.