Of those player pilgrims who make the journey year-on-year just over the Hume horizon, for Indigenous leader and one of several former NRL stars to feature at the event, Joe Williams, it’s a little more ethereal than a footy carnival.
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“It’s a beautiful celebration of people coming together - for sport and enjoyment,” he relayed with thoughts of his famed father, Wilfred venturing to the small town with the Cowra All Blacks from the outset, still front of mind for him and many.
For Australian Touch Hall of Famer, Tony Eltakchi, he 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. It’s a locked in event on my calendar every year and has been for as long as I can remember,” he said.
Likewise the world’s current leading player Dylan Hennessey too recalled the great times on and off the field with mates.
“I remember the first time we camped in tents years ago and it was and still is an amazing experience; you don’t have to travel far to play your games or find a park! “And now with kids with Em (wife, and female legend, Emily), I definitely hope to be back next year and join the great social but also tough competition,” Mr Hennessey said.
“It’s also a great run into the Elite Eight with the Mav’s (NSW Mavericks) and to trial against other teams – it’s the ideal hit-out but better weekend away.”
That’s a view shared by several teams preparing for the annual National Touch League (NTL)/Elite Eight event at Coffs Harbour some five weeks after the knockout, including all ACT types and Eastern Suburbs regular, Manu Wakely.
For most like ‘Tash’, Dylan and Manu and all that have ventured down or up the Hume Highway to Yass in the height of summer around Australia Day, the enduring memory is the furnace that awaits them.
And they’re in good company including the defending men’s knockout champions the Inferno crew with Gary Sonda and Mt Isa product, Scott Prince of last year and the mighty Parramatta Eels, Manly, St George and many other great teams of yesteryear.
“Just a little drier mate the heat here than at home,” Prince said at his debut appearance last year, wiping his brow between matches and smile from ear-to-ear.
Recall also the former great ‘Bus’ Boland who would actually power up his old model and full size bus comprising the full and probably nervous Parramatta men’s and women’s contingent, which must have been some trip for his passengers and sight for passers-by.
While travelling on the cheap, one can’t imagine they troubled the highway patrol on the way there and back.
‘Bus’ was at his elusive best with a nod and a wink when asked if the mighty Eels might make a reunion tour in 2018 – short odds you would have to say to see this wily campaigner and gold and blue crew make a return.
Not sure though if the other ‘bus’ will make a return; much to the chagrin of the Parra and Walker car park faithful.
Some of the more colourful characters of the past 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.
“The Yass knockout - what a great experience it is - not just an event,” said Dean Russell current head of NSW Touch and one of the event’s early particpants and advocates.
“I have fond memories as a participant playing many years for the Mr Walkers against the Zonks (boy their non-washed shirts stunk). More importantly though from a sport’s perspective the 30-year existence of the Yass KO has been an important stop on the sport’s cultural journey and one that is the essence of what Touch is all about: friendship, fun, fitness, competition, socialising and community. Well done to Wisey and all who have been involved in the Knockout for all these years.”
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On the other side of the draw to the men’s, some amazing women’s teams of years past have also beat a regular path to the old town.
The NSW Mavericks, South Australia and Alliance women’s sides along with the famed Shark Attack girls from Cronulla, headlined by the marvelous Maher family, have all embraced and chased the fun and the titles and prize cheques on offer.
In the more recent past, Edith Nathan who marshals regularly the Te Whanau teams from Manly in Sydney was effusive in her praise: of the event and the great family atmosphere to keep the small and big kids occupied.
She should know with her own large family contingent spanning babies to grandparents.
“The knockout tournament has always been really exciting to play in; camping around the fields is the best part of the tournament as are the waterslides for the kids off the grassy banks near the dressing sheds and they all have an absolute ball,” she said.
“We have always enjoyed going and is something we really look forward to as a great kick-off to our sporting season.Playing your games, lounging around, singing and dancing and then at the end of the day enjoying a nice cold one with your team mates; very special,” she added.
“All teams have their own little ‘session’ with the sun going down, so a few teams normally get together, have a dance off competition which is always fun to watch and be a part of. The next day after the big night out is always amusing to see, some teams are lucky to form a team and take the field with players being a bit under the weather. And the skill level is always a little shabby in the beginning but as the day progress, you see teams getting right back into form.”
