The Upper Hunter officially has another legend in the community with Anto White’s profound influence on Australia’s polo community recognised, inducted into the Australian Polo Federation Hall of Fame.
Launched in 2012; in order to be chosen for the Hall of Fame, candidates must have had a profound influence on the sport through achievement of an extraordinary level of success over a period of time or made a significant contribution through the development of the game.
Anto is one of four inductees announced this year, including legends Kerry and Roslyn Packer and Stuart Gilmore.
Sixth generation Belltrees farmer Anto was an Australian captain, achieved a five goal handicap winning many major trophies and his influence off the field was just as profound developing junior polo schools, coaching clinics; umpire and coaching accreditation.
“I always loved the sport, it has always been a family sport, and it’s one you can play with anyone and at any age. I’m 70 and still playing!
“I must admit I always wanted to be a Wallaby, I got close but not close enough, I had too many head injuries and thought ‘jeez do I persist’ and then I got an opportunity to go to America and help them so I did and then I gave up rugby and started polo.
“I represented Australia, I was fortunate enough to do that in Argentina at the first World Cup, I represented Australia in India and Pakistan for a month. I think the changing point of my whole career was when I lost my right eye,” Anto reflected.
It wasn’t an injury from the game either, it was a freak accident. Anto was driving his old Toyota on his property and hit a pothole. The glass in the window shattered and the only shard that left a mark was the piece that landed in Anto’s eye.
“That was huge, your sight is so heavily relied upon in the sport. I had to go back to basics because I was pretty useless. I spent six months trying to catch and hit the ball and all of a sudden I got better!
“It made me realise how important coaching was.
“I started coaching here locally with the Scone Polo Club where we’ve had a junior school for 35 years and I’ve been the head coach the whole time. I have travelled Australia, been to New Zealand and coached the Australian team on many occasions. I’ve been very lucky,” Anto said.
“I have also been fortunate enough to coach coaches and now I’ve been in charge of the umpiring, so I’ve been able to have a big influence on the way the game is played, the people who play the game and I’ve loved that.”
Anto’s son Alec has also played professionally on the Australian team and until recently was the President of the Scone Polo Club. He played in the UK High Goal and is the only Australian to have won the prestigious Cartier Queen’s Cup twice.
Anto said he was proud and honoured to be one of the four inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“The sport has been played in Australia for over 100 years so it’s a huge honour to be named as one of the four. Stuart Gilmore is amazing. Kerry Packer changed the game like he did with cricket so to stand alongside him is incredible, I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
Anto still coaches at Scone and travels the countryside doing accreditation for coaches.
“Scone is one of the strongest clubs, it’s still a family sport, people come and have a barbecue on the grounds, kids are still playing, it’s a great family sport even though you can play at that top professional level.”
