George, Tom and Jacob with Mr Paul Crowe and Mrs Sharon McGrath.
The ground will be thrumming with activity on Friday, October 24, 2025, as the Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival celebrates its landmark 60th anniversary. What began as a small rugby league gathering in 1965 has blossomed into the largest combined touch and netball carnival in New South Wales, drawing over 4,000 primary school students and 3,500 spectators.
The carnival’s impressive history is being chronicled by a new generation. Students from St Joseph’s and Boorowa Central School are interviewing local community members who have been an integral part of the event since its inception. Their interviews reveal a nostalgic journey through time, a story of community spirit, and the evolution of a cherished local event.
The first carnival, held on a chilly Saturday in July 1965, was a boys-only affair. Teams from surrounding towns like Yass, Young, and Cootamundra would compete in a rugby league competition. According to locals like Bertie McMahon, the event was a true community effort. He recalls gathering stringybark posts for the 16 fields, while others used lime powder to mark the lines.
“The first carnivals were held on cold, frosty mornings,” said one student reporter. “To combat the cold, large bonfires were lit, and warm soup was offered to players on arrival.”
One of the most memorable moments shared by the interviewees was the addition of netball. Initially, the sisters of the rugby league players had nothing to do on the day. Recognising this, the committee decided in 1969 to add a netball competition, a change that would fundamentally shape the carnival’s future.
The students’ interviews with locals Leah Wales, Bertie McMahon, Dawn Barton, Leon Wales, and Jenny Reid uncovered amazing details. They asked about everything from their roles in the carnival’s history to what the food was like. Bertie shared a memory of the bonfires and warm soup, along with a dad offering volunteers a sip from his hip flask to keep warm. Dawn recalled umpiring all day without a rest, while Leon expressed his joy at the carnival’s growth. Jenny remembered using the bonfires to keep large pots of soup warm, and Leah shared her memories of playing netball in the fog and cold.
The students also spoke with Mrs. Sharon McGrath, Mr. Paul Crowe, and Mr. Gary Dwyer. They asked about their own personal history with the carnival. Mr. Crowe spoke proudly about mowing the fields, and Mrs. McGrath remembered playing as a student and helping her dad set up the fields. Mr. Dwyer, who was on the carnival committee for 30 years, shared stories about the early days, including getting a grant to build new toilets that are still in use today. He also recalled how the carnival transitioned from tackle football to touch football due to insurance, a change that was not popular with everyone at the time.
The interviewees also discussed the food options, which have changed dramatically over the years. Mr. Crowe and Mr. Dwyer remember when the only food available was local meat pies and steak sandwiches from the local bakery. Today, the canteen offers a much wider variety of options, including chips, lollies, and Zooper Doopers.
The carnival’s growth has been remarkable. The first event had 60 rugby league teams. By 1975, the numbers had swelled to 63 football teams and 87 netball teams. The peak came in 2017 with a staggering 250 touch teams and 194 netball teams.
Last year’s carnival hosted 400 teams in total, with organisers hoping for another massive turnout for the 60th-anniversary celebration.
The shift to a more modern, electronic system in 2002 was another major milestone. Mrs. Sharon McGrath, who has a long history with the carnival, remembers when team nominations were done manually via mail. The introduction of computers has streamlined the process, allowing organisers to focus on the day’s events.
The 60th Boorowa Touch and Netball Carnival promises to be a memorable day, not just for the students playing but for the countless volunteers, families, and community members who have made it a resounding success for six decades. It’s a testament to a small town with a big heart, a love for sport, and a community that pitches in to get the job done.
The South West Slopes Times covers an area approximately the size of Fiji in country NSW. We look after a population of more than 50,000 people with our staff servicing 7 major towns and dozens of villages with our story telling footprint.
We offer weekly print editions at $3 a copy and we also offer digital subscriptions across 3 months $30, 6 months $60 and 12 months $120.
We are one of the last truly local independent family run newspaper businesses in the state.
Contact us today to find out how we can promote your business or organisation across our huge network by emailing ads@thetimes.net.au or by calling 0413 763 216.
If you have a news tip, lead or scoop for us please make contact as we love celebrating our communities. You can contribute articles via our South West Slopes Times website.