August/September 2026 Newsletter
/In this edition:
AQCC Wrap Up
AGM Explainer
OAG Wrap Up
APQC Wrap Up
Off Season - what is it?
Community Survey Reminder
A Note From the Chairperson
Sooo this one’s a bit overdue...
On behalf of the whole Board, I would like to apologise for our reduced online presence these past two months. The combination of busy life times in conjunction with the end-of-season events rush put some serious time constraints on us and led to our neglecting of certain aspects of the job.
Adding to this, it has come to our attention that the 30 day deadline for motions and nominations for the Board of Directors at the upcoming Annual General Meeting passed us by in the middle of the rush. Unfortunately, we just did not anticipate the deadline falling amidst so many major events, which means we’ve also dropped the ball there too.
We want to do things right, and so even though we originally wanted to hold the AGM closer to the new end of season, we will now be hosting it online on Tuesday 1st of December, to ensure everyone has another 60 days of notice to submit motions or nominations. Once again, I am very sorry for this lapse of attention, and we will strive to more organised in the future.
On another note - what an end of season! The last month and a half has been jam-packed, with NQL finals, the Australian Quadball Club Championships, the first ever Oceania-Asian Games, and wrapping up with the Asian Pacific Quadball Cup. Thank you to everyone who came out to support these events in any capacity. From the event organisers, to the spectators and club volunteers, and of course the players, each of you is an invaluable part of the Australian quadball community and we wouldn’t be what we are without your support.
This month’s edition of QA Today recaps each of these events, dives into some details regarding the AGM, and features a(nother) call out for community survey completion. We also touch on what it means to have an off-season (a shocking new concept for some of us). Thank you for bearing with us through this busy period, and for continuing to support Australian quadball.
- Bec | Rebecca Robb she/her
ESU Nightbringers Are Your 2026 Australian Quadball Club Champions
The Eastern Sydney Universities Nightbringers coming out on top is not only a well deserved win for the team, but a pretty significant win for Australian quadball too
In what threatened to be ‘a glorified NQL’, the 2026 AQCC turned out to be the start of a momentous victory run for ESU’s university team, the Nightbringers. While the grand final featured yet another rematch between the uni team and the NSW community team, the Nightmares, the ongoing success of the Nightbringers is a testament to the power of dedication, hard work, and investment at the university level.
When asked about what the win means for the team, long-time player, Jakob Sutherland, had this to say: “It’s a special feeling to achieve so much with such a diverse group of people, in both experience and personality. It’s also incredible to see so many newer players contribute so significantly to the success of the team. It’s a season and a playing group I personally won't soon forget.”
As one of the only clubs in the country training regularly, packed to the brim with talent (both experienced and emerging), and built on the back of social events and engagement, it’s no surprise that ESU are a powerhouse in the Australian quadball scene right now.
At a time when it could be easy to think quadball is losing its sparkle, a win to the Nightbringers - one of the last remaining university teams in the country - is a win for everyone.
2026 Annual General Meeting Explainer
The Quadball Australia AGM has been rescheduled for Tuesday
1 December at 7pm AEDT. This is an opportunity for members to have a say in the future direction of QA; discussing priorities for the years ahead and participate in decisions that shape quadball in Australia.
Join the Board! This year, we are looking to replace 6 outgoing board members at the AGM. We need people with passion, a range of different perspectives, and fresh ideas to help make informed decisions and strengthen QA. If you’re looking to contribute to our community in a new way, please consider putting yourself forward.
Submit a motion! Motions give members a formal way to propose changes, raise any issues and influence the direction of Australian quadball. They help ensure that your voices are heard and that decisions reflect the priorities and interests of our community as they change.
Your participation matters to the future of our sport. Join the board, submit a motion or just turn up and make your voice heard. The call for nominations and motions closes midnight 1st November 2026.
A Home Gold for the Australian Auroras at Inaugural Oceania-Asian Games
The 2026 Oceania-Asian Games brought Australia and Japan together for an exciting five-game series at the James Hardie Centre for Excellence in Kellyville, New South Wales, from 26-27 September. Australia claimed a 5–0 series victory, but the result belied the intensity of the competition, with all five games delivering thrilling contests between the two sides.
Ultimately, the Games were about much more than the results on the scoreboard. The event kicked off with a classic Jakob Sutherland-hosted trivia night and wrapped up with a social event, giving players and supporters plenty of opportunities to connect off the pitch. The friendships formed, connections strengthened and memories made along the way were at the heart of the tournament, celebrating the inclusive spirit of quadball and bringing the Australian and Japanese communities closer together.
A huge thank you to the Japanese national team for travelling to Australia and being part of this special event. It was a pleasure sharing the pitch with you!
And finally, a massive thank you Drifter Hostels for sponsoring the Australian Auroras throughout this campaign!
2026 Asian Pacific Quadball Cup - A Review
The Asia-Pacific Quadball Club brought together eight clubs from across the Asia-Pacific region at Gungahlin Oval in Canberra on 3-4 October for a fantastic weekend of quadball!
The tournament was a great opportunity to showcase the talent across our region, support the growth of the sport, and strengthen the connections between clubs and communities across international borders.
Champions: Eastern Sydney Universities Nightbringers
Runners-up: Macquarie University
Third place: Tokyo Penguins
A special shout-out to Japan’s Inceptors and Team New Zealand for making the trip and contributing to a brilliant weekend of competition and community!
Thank you to host’s Canberra Gang-Gangs, as well as all the clubs, players, volunteers and organisers who made the tournament possible.
An Off-Season: What is that?
Long-time player, fellow beater, and friend, Maddi Moulton, recently asked me what I did outside of quadball. This became a poignant question in many ways, most of which require therapy more than anything else, but also because of the sentiment at its heart. Maddi had asked because she was thinking about what she was going to do once the quadball season came to a close - a concept she’d never really had to think about before.
Many traditional sports have off-seasons, some intentionally to fit around the seasons of existing sports, others to mitigate against weather, but until this year, quadball did not. This isn’t surprising, given that so much of the sport has been tied to the ebbs and flows of university life, which is a full year affair in Australia, but it does raise the question: why change now? The answer can be found in the other half of the quadball equation - volunteers. As an entirely volunteer-run sport, Australian quadball’s existence is deeply dependent on the existence of volunteers. And now, with a reduced community size and somewhat ageing population, the health of our volunteers has become a matter of national importance.
In moving towards a seasonal structure, the demands of volunteering become clearer and calmer. There is a designated period time - the season - during which volunteers can expect to focus on things like gameplay, field booking, and the work that goes along with event management. There is also a designated period of time during which volunteers can focus on other tasks - and this is the off-season. In some ways, the off-season can almost be thought of as a creative break for volunteers, who can choose to step away from their duties for a while or pursue ideas that are personally interesting but otherwise non-essential to the regular upkeep of the sport.
This off-season, I encourage you all to take a break - maybe you can try a new sport, take up a new hobby, or travel. You are also more than welcome to get in touch with the Board directly if you get the urge to work on something quadball-related, but remember: this time is for all of us, each of us that gives our time and love to this sport in whatever way we can, and the hope is that we get the chance to rest and come back next season refreshed and ready to play.
Community Survey Reminder
After a truly fantastic start from our former players, we are now turning our attention towards the new. In particular, we would love to hear from the youngest and newest members of the community, as well as those of you who are actively involved in Australian quadball as it currently exists.
This survey is an opportunity to make your voice heard, to share your insight, raise your concerns, and reflect on what Australian quadball means to you.
You can access the survey using this link, over on our social media platforms, or in the monthly QA Today email!