There’s two things that’s kept Sydney team the Boneheads returning to the Cootamundra Unisex Touch Carnival for 25 years.
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Fun and friendship.
This year marks a huge milestone for the team and member Terry Walsh said the team was looking forward to another carnival in Cootamundra.
“It’s another way of getting together,” Walsh explained.
“If you don’t keep in touch everyone disperses.”
Walsh said there had been close friendships forged over 25 years and while there had been new names on the team list, a core of the group had kept the tradition alive.
Most of the players also play with Sydney’s Hills Touch Association.
Members of the Boneheads will start leaving Sydney this week and will stop and spend nights in other towns along the way to Cootamundra.
The team will have a golf day on Thursday and will regular patrons at number of venues around town during the weekend.
Walsh said there was no one from Cootamundra in the team however they enjoyed supporting local businesses.
This year marks the 34th time Cootamundra has hosted the touch carnival and Walsh said the Boneheads association started with a letter almost 25 years ago.
“I used to run the Castle Hill Touch Association, and I got a letter from the Cootamundra Touch Association,” Walsh said.
“I thought there was plenty of people around here who played touch.”
Seven women and even men were chosen to be in that initial team and Walsh said the focus was on fun and friendship.
“We’ve won the first and second division a few times, but to us that’s only a bonus,” he said.
“It’s not about the tournament, it’s about the friendship.”
Not all the Boneheads players have spent 25 years visiting Cootamundra and some have played for Australia in the past.
“Our youngest players is 19 or 20 and you don’t come back if you don’t have fun when you’re 19 or 20,” Walsh said.
“Half the players are now long-term. One player has his 20-year-old son playing with us now.”
BONEHEADS 2018 TEAM
- Terry Walsh
- Phil Mcilwraith
- Tony Eltakchi
- Ian Bridgefoot
- Mel Murray
- Theo Kristidis
- Katrina Mcilwraith
- Prue Robertson
- Katie Thonley
- Craig Beecroft
Organisers are still looking for referees for the weekend either for two hours or two days, contact Tisha McTavish on 0403 997 420 for information.
The draw for the first day of the carnival will be published on Friday in the Cootamundra Herald.