Australian_Geographic_-_October_2015_

LAT LONG

104 Australian Geographic

I

T SHOULD PROBABLY come as no surprise to fi nd

an international polo tournament underway on

the beach at Broome. After all, this far-flung

West Australian town has been a place for eclectic

experiences ever since it was founded in the 1880s as

a port for pearling luggers.

Broome was populated in those early days by a multi-

cultural mix of Japanese, Malay, Filipinos, Europeans

and local Aboriginals all hoping to make their fortunes

from the trade in lustrous local pearls. More than a

century later, Broome’s vibrant mix of culture and

promise remains strong, contributing to the town’s

exotic and unpredictable air.

The Cable Beach Polo was instigated in 2010 by

Marilynne Paspaley – the daughter of Nicholas

Paspaley, the founder of Paspaley Pearls, one the of

the world’s leading producers of cultured pearls. Each

year in May, famous polo players and their well-

heeled followers make the trek to this remote location

for two days of horseplay on the sand.

Cable – with its stunning 22.5km of white sand

lapped by turquoise waves – certainly ranks among

the world’s most beautiful beaches, and this tourist

drawcard is undoubtedly a major attraction.

The tournament is accompanied by a schedule of

social events and community initiatives such as the

Kimberley Challenge, during which Aboriginal stock-

men get the chance to showcase their horsemanship

skills by competing in the sport. In 2015 two young

indigenous stockmen were off ered scholarships to

develop their skills in polo at a training camp in New

Zealand – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to

demonstrate Aboriginal horsemanship.

“This event has something for everyone, [from]

the breathtaking spectacle of international and local

polo players battling it out on the sand, to the bare-

foot fun and club atmosphere of our Kimberley Beach

Polo Lounge,” says Marilynne. “You check your shoes

in on entry and collect them when you leave.”

The tournament has also become a showcase for

Broome’s ‘Kimberley Girl’, a group of young Aboriginal

women who model clothes for the event.

LAT LONG 17° 56ˇ S 122° 12ˇ E

STORY AND PHOTOGR APHY BY CATHY FINCH

For one weekend each year, the camels on Broome’s famed

Cable Beach make way for thundering teams of men on horseback,

swinging long-handled mallets.

CABLE BEACH POLO

Local talent. ‘Kimberley Girl’ models Katina Coffi n, left,

Shona Coffi n and Marlikka Perdrisat soak up the sun.

By the book. During the Cable Beach Polo games, each

team consists of three players and each game is normally

made up of four periods, known as chukkas.