Annual Camden vs Cowra Exchange 2026 

The Camden Cowra Exchange is a tradition that began in 1972 between the two schools. This makes it one of the longest sporting exchanges in Australia. Each year, one of the schools hosts the other in a three-day sporting competition. This is the 55th year, and we will host Cowra here at Camden High School from Wednesday 27th to Friday 29th May 2026. During this time, we will have a variety of sports running at various venues on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the exchange, as well as extracurricular activities around the school.  

The students from Cowra High School will arrive at lunchtime (approx. 2pm) on Wednesday 27th May 2026. Normal timetabled lessons will run at Camden High School for periods 1 to 4 and then all students will attend an assembly held in the hall. Allocation of billets will be given out at the end of this assembly. All students will be dismissed at 3pm on this day.  

On Wednesday night, the boys Rugby League and Ladies Rugby League 9’s events will take place at Dudley Chesham Sports Ground from 4:45pm-7:50pm. It is a gold coin donation on entry and billeting families will need to bring the Cowra High student for a check in with their staff. Parents of students playing in the games will need to check with coaches of arrival time. Families taking a billet of a student in a football team will be notified prior, as some students may need to arrive before kick-off. As this is a school event it is an ALCOHOL-FREE EVENT. There will be a BBQ and a small canteen on the night.  

On Thursday, students need to be at school prior to 8:40am for normal roll call. For Camden High School students, this will occur in their normal roll call rooms and the main quad for students from Cowra High. Normal timetable lessons will not be running on this day and students not participating in sport will have the opportunity to spectate and support others involved in events. Students can also move around to the various sports to watch and cheer on the Camden team. The day will conclude at 3pm where students will be dismissed to travel home with parents or via the normal school buses. 1:30pm buses will not run on this day. Please see alternate activities page for those not participating.  

Thursday night is the school social. It is held in the Camden High School hall from 5:45pm-8pm. Once again, Cowra High students will need to attend, as a check-in with their school staff. All Camden High Schools students can attend for a small cost. Tickets are sold prior to the event at school by our year 12 students. Entry for students taking a billet will be free, however a ticket will need to be allocated and $2 for everyone else. This is only for students at the two schools and outside students are NOT to attend. Tickets can be purchased at school during breaks times from C-Block window in week 5 and 6. There will be a small canteen running at night for students to have snacks and drinks at an additional cost. Parents will not be able to pick up their child or billet/s early from the event. 

Friday will run like Thursday with no timetabled lessons. Roll call for both schools from 8:40am-9am. All students from both schools will be onsite for the whole day as no sports will be played offsite at all this year. We will have a farewell assembly after lunch, where we hope to hold the trophy up and send the students from Cowra home. The day will once again conclude at 3pm, where students will be dismissed to travel home with parents or via the normal school buses.