THE second Bushman’s Ball will take over Pooncarie’s Community Hall next weekend, promising a western-themed night of food, dancing, and even mechanical bull rides.
Event organiser Jaymee Stagg said the idea for the ball came about during the drought when she and other locals decided to get the town together for a social event. But it took a hiatus of several years before the inaugural Bushman’s Ball kicked off last year.
“We just loved getting everyone together and thought we’d like to do that again for the town,” she said.
The event attracts locals and out of towners, with people coming from throughout the Far West including Broken Hill, and some keen road trippers even commuting from Geelong.
“It’s been really good for our little town,” Ms Stagg said.
“Last year we had about 130 people come, and this year is capped at 150, but we’ve sold 110 already.”
Ms Stagg said last year’s theme was more focused on the bush, but this year the ball will be a western theme, including western themed cocktails provided by the Telegraph Hotel, a horse float coming to host the second bar, door prizes, and crown jewel of the event: the mechanical bull.
Wentworth band The Recliners will be playing live music again for dancers, who Ms Stagg said were a highlight of last year’s ball.
“They were just brilliant,” she said.
“We all had a blast!”
Attendees will be able to camp right next door in the park, and the parents and citizens will host a recovery breakfast the next morning, with funds raised supporting the local school in Pooncarie, which had a total of nine students.
The Pooncarie Bushman’s Ball is on Saturday, March 1, and tickets can be purchased via bit.ly/4k7KoYK.