PLAY THE GAME: Orange celebrates 100 years of Astley Cup

Celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Astley Cup have begun!

Students from Dubbo College arrived in Orange this morning (Thursday, June 8) eager to wrest the coveted trophy from the hands of their Orange High School rivals.

Over the next two days, June 8–9, representatives from the two high schools will compete in netball, basketball, hockey, soccer, rugby league, tennis, debating and athletics.

Founded in Dubbo in 1923 by businessman Lawrence Astley, the Astley Cup is a unique multi-sports competition played — almost every year since – between Dubbo College (formerly Dubbo High School), Bathurst High

School and Orange High Schools.

Only four times has the competition not been held since that first year — 1924, 1932, 1941 and 2020 — and it is believed to be one of the longest-running school sporting competitions in Australia.

That a competition between three schools has been going for that long is almost unheard of, says former sports coordinator at Orange High School, Lynne Middleton.

During her time at Orange High, Lynne oversaw 12 years of uninterrupted wins for the school — the longest in the history of the Cup. She is also head of the steering committee that has been busy planning the 100th-anniversary celebration here in Orange this weekend.

About 200 people are expected to attend the Astley Cup 100 years celebration dinner at the Orange Ex-Services’ Club on Friday night, says Lynne.

“Our guest speaker is Kylie Bloodworth. She was a 1993 graduate, who has gone on to international work with softball,” she says.

“We have representatives from government and from the Department of Education and we’ve got so many students coming back!”

Also coming to the local celebrations are three great-grandchildren of the games’ founder Lawrence Astley.

“Simon, his sister Vanessa, and brother Miles, they’re coming back — they had no idea that this Astley Cup had gone on for so long! So it’s just so exciting for them, and they’ve become really involved here.”

On Saturday, June 17 from 10am–12 noon, Orange High School is holding an open day for past students to come and tour the school grounds and relive past Astley Cup triumphs.

“There’ll be a big static display there — memorabilia photos, legacy stories... There will be sort of a mini market and the coffee shop will be running,” says Lynne, who has been eagerly awaiting this weekend.

“You bet – biggest supporter!” she says, before conceding that there may, possibly, be bigger supporters out there than her.

Coinciding with the 100-year celebrations of the Astley Cup, the Orange Regional Museum has launched a new exhibition featuring photographs and memorabilia from the past century. Located in the museum foyer, Play the Game: Celebrating 100 years of Astley Cup will remain on display until October 18, 2023.