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Masters games are set and ready to go

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Chris Oldfield, Naracoorte Community News

The 2022 Tatiara SA Masters Games are set and ready to go in “The Good Country” – featuring 24 mature age sports, social gatherings and a lot of fun.

With sport being the heartbeat of rural communities, the event over four days is expected to attract more than a thousand athletes, spectators and volunteers combined.

Action packed competitions will be hosted across three towns – Mundulla, Keith and Bordertown.

Running from April 7 – 11, it is the region’s next big event following on from Lucindale’s successful SE Field Days.

However, as a result of the National dragon boat championships being held on the same weekend, boats will hit the water for races on April 2 at the Bordertown Recreation Reserve.

Cr Cathy Langley sits at the helm of the organising committee which includes other councillors, Tatiara council staff, and numerous members of the community all volunteering their time.

They are supported by the council, local businesses, sporting clubs and the community all working together.

The council enabled Cr Langley to join its March 8 meeting electronically via zoom.

This in turn allowed Cr Langley to deliver a brief presentation about various meetings, including some featuring the games which were getting closer to the starting line.

During the meeting, various reports and minutes highlighted the important roles of council staff involved in hosting the event – from organising and planning to closing roads and preparing the lake for dragon boats.

The minutes of one of the meetings showed praise for local businesses which had pumped $55,000 into the event in the form of sponsorships.

The event will fire up with a Bendigo Bank opening ceremony and festivities from 4pm onwards in Woolshed St, Bordertown on April 7.

Enabling everyone to frolic in the open air, the ceremony will include an athlete’s march, live music, drinks, a kids zone and the running of the Masters Mile.

Deemed a Back to the Future event, Tatiara was due to hold the 2020 Masters Games and had spent almost $70,000 preparing for it.

That included 2020 being stamped, printed, plastered and etched onto all the merchandise and paraphernalia, including medals, bags, lanyards and the like.

But the 2020 event was ripped from the calendar by the global pandemic.

The Copper Coast held a successful 2021 Masters Gamers, and Tatiara was invited by Sports SA to host it in 2022.

So rather than waste all the 2020 things, they will still be used under the banner Back to the Future for 2022.

Some of the 24 sports on offer include usual competitions such as football, netball, basketball, hockey, cricket, golf, bowls, crochet, cycling, table tennis and tennis, and some tough competitions are expected for spectators.

Other exciting sports for participants and spectators include gliding, a stockman’s challenge, clay target shooting, indoor rowing, karts, equestrian, darts, 8 ball, archery athletics, a Masters Mile and swimming in the Bordertown pool.

The LC Automotive and Wickham Flower Closing celebration will feature South Aussie with Cosi, Cosi Costello and music by the Flaming Sambucas.

Tickets to the 7pm closing event in Woolshed St, Bordertown, cost $35 and are available from the council offices.

“We will do things a little differently from other games, hosting sports not just in one town but showcasing venues across the district,” Tatiara CEO Anne Champness said.

“We encourage you to visit all our towns, see lots of events, meet new people, and most importantly have fun.”

Ms Champness paid tribute to “everyone who has helped turn the Tatiara Masters Games from an ambitious dream into reality, in particular our amazing local sporting groups and volunteers”.

“We could not host an event like this without your support and passionate commitment to your sport. Thank you,” Ms Champness said.

“We hope you enjoy your time in the Tatiara and take the opportunity to explore our district and the Limestone Coast.”

The South East has only hosted the SA Masters Games twice following the inaugural event held in the Riverland in 1996.

Mount Gambier held it in 1998 and Naracoorte organised it in 2014 attracting registrations from almost 1000 athletes.

According to Sports SA, the Masters Games “is a multi-sport event designed to allow mature aged sports people opportunities to participate in the sports of their choice and to compete with their age peers”. 

“Participating, competing and being physically active is the main motivation of the participants. Social interaction is a very important feature of Masters Games.”

Naracoorte Community News 30 March 2022

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.

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