The longest inter-college sporting event in the nation’s history will be taking place in the Hawkesbury this weekend.
Every year Western Sydney University (WSU) Hawkesbury - also known as Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC) - competes against Duntroon Royal Military College (RMC) in a day of sport.
The competition has a long history dating back 96 years to 1922, where RMC and HAC came together to further the relationships their students had formed over WWI.
The annual event is the longest inter-collegiate rivalry in Australia and is being held at WSU Hawkesbury campus this Saturday, October 20.
“What started as a day of rugby has evolved into a far-reaching competition of various sports,” said HAC old boy and HAC Rugby Club president, John Mullinger.
This year the day will see teams compete in mixed soccer, mixed and men’s touch, women’s rugby sevens, tug of war, basketball, netball, dodgeball, and the traditional rugby game.
“The day is about fostering the relationship that was formed between the two colleges,” Mullinger said.
He wants to see “the tradition continued and for both colleges to uphold the spirit of the day, on and off the field”.
WSU Campus Life Officer Larissa Baker also wants to see the students keep tradition alive.
“I love the day, its where I’ve gotten to know everyone who I see as my little family… It makes the job mean something,” she said.
Baker is proud of HAC every year and is very hopeful the touch and soccer teams will come out on top, as well as being “110 per cent sure HAC rugby will win”.
“The day is an opportunity to make friends and have a good laugh … and a little bit of winning is good too,” she said.
Although it is an achievement to win any of the sports, rugby – being the traditional rivalry – is the big event that wraps up the day.
This year’s events mean a lot to both colleges, as 2018 marks the centenary of the end of WWI.
Because of this, the HAC rugby team will wear jerseys in the traditional “blood and mustard” colours, inscribed with the names of the 137 HAC students who died during WWI.
“Everyone knows the history… they want to represent and honour the importance of the original competition,” said rugby captain, Miles Douglas.
Two of the main organisers, netball captain Carla Newstead and soccer captain Marty Wyburn, love the annual event.
“It is important to keep the tradition alive as the day shows what HAC is truly about … It brings everyone together,” Newstead said.
Wyburn said the pride shown on the day every year by both sides was “extraordinary”.
The teams will compete for the overall championship, which is awarded to the college who wins the most sports.
The day starts at 10am with soccer at the university soccer fields and men’s touch on the College Oval.
Rugby kicks off at 3pm at the College Oval.
The community is encouraged to get along, cheer on and support the events held at WSU Hawkesbury Campus.
Email Larissa Baker at larissa.baker@westernsydeny.edu.au if you wish to get involved and volunteer, donate to or sponsor the event.