Australia’s Bachelors and Spinsters (B&S) balls are dying out due to rising insurance costs, according to the committees behind these charitable rural get-togethers, although a lifeline is on the cards.
Once a traditional black-tie ball for single country people to drink and dance and maybe meet a partner, they’re now regarded as “a paddock party more than a B&S ball” where shirts are ripped, food dye is spat and attendees have the opportunity to “write yourself off and have a really good night”, according to Andrew Greenwood.
Greenwood, 40, lives in Armidale in the New England region of New South Wales and estimates he’s attended at least 100 B&S balls, yet he’s also witnessed a “huge decline” in their numbers.
“There were more than 500 B&S balls in the 1980s. Now it’s dropped down to 15 or 16 total,” he says.
As the manager of the B&S Balls Australia Facebook Page, which collects historical information, promotes upcoming balls and supports their committees, Greenwood says the situation is getting worse as insurance costs climb “through the roof” and companies increase liability risks for BYO alcohol and camping events.
“We understand they’re trying to protect themselves but they’re just not supporting local towns,” he says. “They’re just putting too many rules and regulations in.”
A spokesperson for the Insurance Council of Australia says insurance is experiencing difficulties globally with capital more expensive and reinsurance harder to obtain.
“This is impacting the availability and affordability of public liability insurance in some markets, including the live entertainment industry and for some licensed venue operators,” they say.
One of Australia’s longest-running B&S balls, Ariah Park in the NSW Riverina region, recently announced the cancellation of its 2022 event due to insurance costs.
Kitty Mitton, 25, has attended the Ariah Park B&S Ball three times and says she was disappointed for committee organisers.
The Dirranbandi, Queensland, resident says the majority of people who go to B&S balls are responsible; they don’t turn their car on or leave the keys in the ignition.
“But then there’s always that one dickhead in a ute that tries to do something funny and that’s when something ends up happening.”
The first time Mitton attended one of Ariah Park’s B&S balls she was “gobsmacked”.
“Everyone ends up looking like a smurf, because they’re all just like spitting food dye on everyone,” she says.
The committee president of Goondiwindi’s upcoming Plucked Duck B&S ball, Sam Jobling, says they’re expecting 1,500 people to attend on 17 September after two years off due to Covid.
“The amount of people it brings to town is incredible. We donate about $50,000 a year back into different organisations and charities,” he says. “There’s a lot of organisations that we give money to, and that’s the only money they really get for the year.”
Although the committee was able to secure insurance for the 2022 Plucked Duck ball, Jobling predicts there’ll be a point in the future when it will be too expensive.
“We try our best to keep [ticket] prices down and reasonable but there’s not much else we can do,” he says. “Otherwise we just wouldn’t have it.”
The B&S Balls Facebook Page recently posted a callout to all B&S committees interested in insurance, saying, “It’s time to come together nationally to share knowledge.”
Greenwood says he received a call from an insurer who offered to work with all B&S committees “to keep the ball scene going”.
Broker Brennan Edgar says he saw the Facebook post and wanted to help.
As a lifeline for all B&S balls, Edgar says he hopes to unite committees and create a proposal to put to insurance companies.
“We aim to get a solution which suits both the insurer from a risk management point of view but also something that is not so restrictive that will suffocate the balls and take the fun away,” he says. “We also want a price that is sustainable for both the balls and the insurers.”
Greenwood acknowledges there have been quite a few serious accidents at B&S balls, but doesn’t want to see rural Australia lose this tradition.
“I would hate to see that whole culture and history die off because of the licensing and the rules and regulations.”
Mitton said B&S balls are “a great socialising point … everyone should go to a B&S once in their life”.
“I think it’s like a great stress release and it’s just something to look forward to rather than just going to the pub on a Saturday.”
