The Mallee Root Round Up committee was delighted to welcome almost nine hundred revellers back to the Mallee Root Roundup B&S ball last Saturday, October 21, after a three-year hiatus caused by unprecedented circumstances.

In the 1980s there were up to 500 balls across Australia, but now it is more like thirty. The Bachelors and Spinsters (B&S) balls are dying out due to rising risks and insurance costs, but the local Birchip based committee continues to work hard to ensure that this quintessential Aussie shindig remains, as it is almost a rite of passage for all rural people when they turn 18.

Whilst they are no longer the traditional black-tie events where single country people found a partner, and you are more likely to see a ripped shirt and food dye being spat than a waltz, what you will see is everyone having unbridled fun.

A few people still go in the hope of finding love, but most just go to hang out with their mates who are regular ball goers who attend every ball in their own state and often travel across borders.

People also go to compare rigs (vehicles and bodies alike) and use their rigs to show off and play up, but most importantly they all go in search of a good time.

Probably one of the biggest draw cards is they can run amok in a country larrakintype way where everyone is relaxed, loud and unruly but not harmful or disrespectful, and they’re well away from town so there is no disruption to the neighbours.

The merrymakers started rolling into town on Friday in their overly accessorized utes and set up elaborate camp sites in the camping area, saving space for their mates. And from there the party started; out came the couches and swags, flags and slabs and the party goers sat around revelling in stories and showing off their tricks, from whip cracking to key banging.

And as the sun set over the campground on Saturday night, the guests headed into the Trotting Club pavilion for dinner, drinks and live music. This year the faithful crowd was entertained by all-time local favourites, “The Shorts” and “Disco Gold” and headline act, country rock artist Josh Setterfield kept them dancing till late in the night.

Financial Winner

The committee was thrilled with the outcome of the event, which injected well over $100,000 into the Birchip economy and promoted Birchip to a national audience. Ball-goers had travelled from all across Australia, including Western Australia and Tasmania to be in attendance at this highly regarded ball.

As well as the Mallee Root Round Up committee purchasing food, drinks and logistical requirements locally, the visitors to Birchip spent thousands of dollars on food, drinks, fuel and accommodation in Birchip and surrounding towns, providing a very important injection of external cash into the local economy.

Mallee Root Roundup president, Carly Hemley, said: “It was incredibly rewarding and humbling to see everyone back at the ball, having a brilliant time catching up with old friends and new.

Community Spirit

“The event was such a great reflection on the community spirit that exists in Birchip, volunteers and local community groups all came together to help us stage this event, and without their support it just wouldn’t be possible.

“Along with the community support we receive, we are eternally grateful to our ongoing event sponsor, local environmental business TMC Enviro.

“This year we also had Savannah Reid from ‘home of the custom cattle tag’ donate all the cattle tags which was very generous,” said Carly.

The Birchip C.E.R.T team was on hand as well as a crew from Ambulance Victoria and security and Victoria Police members who were all of great assistance to the organisers in keeping the event and the patrons safe.

The organising committee members have worked together for months to create this event and they co-opted many local community groups to help them host the event on the weekend. The Trotting Club helped with the barbecue on the night and the breakfast on Sunday, the Buloke Collectable Car Club cooked a barbecue on Saturday, the Netball Club manned the ticket tent, the Early Learning Centre provided bar staff, the Birchip Campus of EWHS cooked the meat for the delicious roast meat and gravy rolls served in fresh Sharp’s Bakery bread rolls, Tchum Lake Aquatic Club helped at the gate and the tennis and cricket club members had the onerous job of cleaning up the shed and camp site on Sunday morning.

However, many hands make light work and that was the case on the weekend, as everyone came together to help the hard working committee host yet another successful community fun, fundraising event.

Carly said: “We are delighted that the returning ball was so well attended, as it has set us up again after the past three wipe outs. We can now look forward to bringing more balls to Birchip.”

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 27 October 2023.

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