The once well known bachelor and spinsters ball (BnS) is making a red-hot come back.
Most well known for painting halls with food dye and Bundaberg rum – the balls are now also being seen as a major contributing factor to a local community’s growth and engagement.
Small towns are finding the balls make up for the muck with much needed income deposited by the throngs of young people coming into the town.
Bullioh near Tallangatta recently held its second annual ball and The Rock, near Wagga Wagga, is preparing for its first ball this November.
Traditionally, BnS balls were known as rural Australian parties for young male farmers and ladies from farming backgrounds to find love.
They’d come dressed in their best formal wear – which would be destroyed shortly after – and find refuge from the often lonely life of the bush.
Now BnS balls are known for their ability to bridge the gap between city and country divide, with their popularity becoming larger by the minute, they are being heralded for their ability to contribute major funds back into the organisations that help small townships roll along.
Bullioh Bucks and Does, event co-ordinator Libbe Paton said the creation of the local BnS was amazing and she hoped one day it would give back so much more to the community than just money.
“Being a small knit community and club, so many locals of all ages get involved and enjoy helping throughout the weekend,” Mrs Paton said.
The near-by town of Tallangatta receives non direct profits from the ball, with 2017 being the second year the Bullioh ball has received the support from the local community continued to grow.
“It generates more money into Tallangatta with all BnS goers stopping for food and fuel.”
“All profits are put back into the Wyeeboo Reserve, which is home to multiple sporting and recreational clubs, and the community services in Tallangatta Valley.”
More than 20 BnS balls spread across Australia are now active, with more on the horizon, a number of rural towns are going to relish in the benefits of large scale BnS balls.
BnS attendee, Alyssa Hancock, Corowa, said the balls weren’t only a great income for local community organisations they were also a way of bringing tourists to towns.
“A lot of the time BnS balls are in towns I have never even heard of but you go and enjoy them and see a part of Australia you haven't seen before, but you tell your friends then they visit,” Mr Hancock said.
