Portsea Polo is an annual polo event held in Portsea, Victoria. The event was founded in 2002 by David Calvert-Jones,[1] grandson of philanthropist Dame Elisabeth Murdoch.[2][3] It is held on a Saturday in mid-January at Jarman Oval, near the former Quarantine Station located on Point Nepean.[4]
History
Started as a charity event to raise money for the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the event only attracted a few hundred spectators in its first year.[5] Across the following few years the event began to grow, drawing in 5000 spectators in its fifth year and selling out for the first time.[6] It has consistently drawn crowds of up to 6000 spectators since,[2][7] and now raises over $100,000 for the charity annually.[8]
The event, which costs over $1 million to run, is funded through sponsorship from large brands,[9] and has variously had naming partnerships with The Age,Stella Artois, Jeep, Teka, Elica and Alfa Romeo. It regularly attracts many well known names from some of Melbourne's most affluent families.[9]
The 2008 event was cancelled by the Point Nepean Community Trust due to concerns surrounding an outbreak of equine influenza.[9]
References
^Cherry, Tiffany (15 January 2006). "Chukkas for local charity". Sunday Herald Sun. p. 92.
^ abHawthorne, Mark (12 January 2009). "All chipper as Portsea hits its polo goal". The Age. p. 20.