Memory Banks With the Yass Touch Knockout turning the big 30 in 2018, we cast our minds back and recall fondly the rollicking ride and journey the event and participants have been on since its breakthrough year. Just 29 teams nominated for the inaugural year of the knockout competition. Now it’s the place to be each Australia Day long weekend and in 2018, more than 100 teams will compete from across the country and globe. The economic and social capital impact from the annual event also grows every year. The little enclave town of 7,000 will again swell to over 10,000 when the knockout comes a-knocking. It all started back in the early-eighties when the seeds of the several claret ash trees were sown on the steep banks of the Walker Park complex fields. The late Jim Beck, something of a local legend and councillor had an idea. Adorned with trademark King Gee overalls and a knockabout ‘can do’ approach to life, he set about galvanising the community and particularly the junior League club, the Yass Magpies. He and some other hardy and community-minded types figured this unused tract of the broader new sub- division needed a conversion to parkland. The idea of a touch footy knockout event, began to germinate. Enter event founders and knockout pioneers, Dennis Grieves and Rod Wise. “It’s almost unbelievable to think it’s been that long since we kicked it all off in the late-eighties, with a great committee … and with around $3,000 prize money and only nine sponsors” Rod said. The precinct is now something to behold – eight, and soon to become nine, playing fields over four levels from ‘top to town’. “The fields are always in their best possible conditions due to the preparations of council,” said Rod. “The contributions also of the now 30-odd sponsors can’t be overstated and we thank council, the committee and all sponsors … and all referees for their enduring support over many years.” Australian Touch Hall of Famer, Tony Eltakchi, has been coming to the knockout for more than 20 years. “Yass is the best touch tournament for catching up with friends and being able to enjoy the sport on a more social level,” he said. Likewise, the world’s current leading player Dylan Hennessey recalls great times on and off the field. “I remember the first time we camped in tents years ago and it was and still is an amazing experience,” he said. Some of the event’s more colourful characters provide an indelible link to the past and ‘mark’ on the event’s history as much as their poor old uniforms. The mere mention of the Loose Mooses, the Leeton Zonks, Pink Flamingos and the ‘Farkarwee Tribe’ conjure images of all manner of on and off field mayhem and strife. The amber fluid the essential ingredient to their successes and their electrolyte replacement of choice. By Julian Buckmaster (@JulianTFA) 4 | Keeping In Touch 2016 IMG002_NSWTouch_Dec17_v3_FILM_R.indd 4 28/11/17 4:21 pm