I remember the excitement of the Shine Shields in the late 1960s. We girls would chatter, turn handstands, run around and generally have fun while the marshals would no doubt tear their hair out trying to line us up. I doubt much has changed.
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The Shine Shields were big carnivals: big enough to tire out the most energetic of children. By the time we’d raced 50 metres in every stroke, we’d be exhausted, but we’d never let on. Our parents always had to drag us away.
Over the past 50 years the event has seen some ups and down and a number of different formats. Relays and more age groups have been added. Jugiong joined the comp and Boorowa left. Formats come and go, but the socialising has always remained the same.
The Shine Shield was one of the few opportunities I had as a girl growing up in Harden to meet children from other towns. There was not the same opportunity for organised sport for girls then as there is now. I formed friendships at the Shine Shield, particularly with the Binalong girls, some of which endure to this day.
Years later, when I married and moved to Binalong, I met up with my Shine Shield friends again: this time we raced on the same team. I’ve seen my sons make mates they rarely see apart from the Shine Shields and hope that their friendships will also endure.
I’ve formed friendships as an adult through the Shine Shield, where the ‘oldies’ among us have appreciated the introduction of more appropriate, (but still very competitive!) age categories. I’ve heard my race introduced as the ‘Nursing Mothers’ handicap’ (thanks Leon Garry!).
I don’t know if Buster Shine could have envisaged what a wonderful institution the Shine Shield would become, but I’m sure it has achieved his objectives.
This article was adapted from one originally published in the Yass Tribune December 15, 2006