National Polo Day

By Jessica Howard

Polo fans will still have the opportunity to celebrate Australia Day in Ballan, despite Geelong giving the public holiday event the boot.

The Australia Day Polo, which was established in 2017 by Initiative Sport and the Yaloak Polo Club, was removed from the Geelong events calendar in December last year.

The announcement was made on the Australia Day Polo Facebook page on December 24, 2017.

“Following a careful and considered assessment of the timing, along with the already crowded Geelong events calendar at the end of January, the organisers of the 2018 Australia Day Polo have decided to re-schedule the event,” the post read.

“The Australia Day Polo event was established in 2017 and was hailed as a wonderful initiative for Geelong. With the continued support of the Geelong community, we are confident that the new date will allow the event to achieve its undoubted potential.  

“We would like to recognize and thank all of our partners and stakeholders who have been universally supportive of this decision and are committed to the future success of the sport of Polo in Geelong”. 

While it is uncertain whether a similar event will be held in Geelong’s Eastern Park, Yaloak Polo Club manager Janice Keyte said a club event will definitely be going ahead this Australia Day.

“After the backer pulled out of Geelong, we planned to hold a smaller event back here at Yaloak, just 10km south of Ballan,” she said.

“It will be very low-key compared to the one in Geelong, with club games and club teams, but anybody who wants to come along and see some polo is most welcome.

“It is a free entry event and we encourage visitors to byo picnic with chairs, etc., or the clubhouse is open to purchase sandwiches, drinks and snacks.”

Ms Keyte said the bar will be open with a barbecue to get in the theme of Australia Day.
“What a perfect family day out. Polo is such a great spectator sport.”

Entry to the Australia Day Polo event is free and will be held on Friday January 26 at Yaloak Polo Club, Geelong-Ballan Road in Ballan. Matches are scheduled to begin at approximately 10.30am.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/yaloakpolo.