Sport

The Victorian Government’s recent decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria once again demonstrates two things. Firstly, for a leader to be trusted, any up front promises and subsequent actions and lived experiences must align. Secondly, regional Australians must be able to adapt quickly to the incompetent decisions governments make. This is often and many.

On a visit to the Torres Strait, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner announced the composition of the new 10-person Cape York Special Fisheries Working Group to provide advice on fisheries issues in the region.

Congratulations to Donald High School Student Hunter Wingfield, who has been selected to represent Team Victoria at the Australian Championships in Tweed Heads NSW from September 12 to 15.

Cohuna District Hospital was the recipient of a donation from the Cohuna Bridge to Bridge Committee ... The money was raised from the 30th annual Bridge to Bridge event held in March, and will go towards improving the outdoor area of the aged care home ... looking at options to enclose the area so that it can be used any time of the day and throughout the year.

Jessica Rea. Cambooya’s Dan O’Leary and his pony Nelkie were two of the stars of the Cooke O’Leary Cup, a polo competition hosted by the Downs Polo Club in Clifton last weekend.The champion off the track pony prize, sponsored by Edwards Saddleworld Toowoomba, was awarded to Nelkie, owned and played by O’Leary.

The Show Horse Council of Australasia’s NSW/ACT Youth Development and Championship Showcase was a brilliant idea, executed perfectly. Held at the Hawkesbury Showgrounds and designed be a youth development program as well as a qualifying event for the Grand National Show, it offered something for every young rider.

With significant planning work and extensive market soundings completed, it is now certain that the cost of hosting the Regional Victorian Commonwealth Games will exceed $6 billion – more than twice the estimated economic benefit the Games would bring our state. In the face of these numbers, the Victorian Government has made the decision not to proceed with hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2026.

New figures to come out of the 2022/23 season show a near-25 per cent increase year on year in beach attendances, keeping Australian Lifeguard Service (ALS) lifeguards on their toes along the NSW coastline.

A stretch of water along the Clarence River at Maclean will become a fast-paced raceway on July 23 when the Northern Rivers Aquatic Club Inc host their inaugural Power Boat Circuit Race Day. Close to 30 competitors from as far as Northern Queensland and the South Coast of NSW will roar into action...

An unstoppable student duo from Cunnamulla State School has achieved a resounding victory for their community and culture, securing 1st place at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aspirations Programs (ASTIAP) Queensland State Finals ... Charli Pender, 16 and Heidi Jones, 15 ... collaborated on a painting representing the equity and excellence of First Nations’ students. The deadly award-winning artwork will now feature on the competition shirts next year.

There are 20,800 Australians currently living with spinal cord injuries, so no matter where you come from, it’s likely you know someone affected. A beef producing family from north-west Queensland who have experienced the impacts of a spinal injury first hand, are hosting a unique fundraising event during this year’s Ekka featuring a luncheon and invitational bull ride.

Viv Markham. No matter how many lattes are sipped in Main Street, the true, beating heart of Maldon lies up at the Bill Woodfull Recreation Reserve - it’s the Maldon Football Netball Club (MFNC). One of Maldon’s best-loved institutions, the MFNC celebrated its 150th anniversary in style last weekend.

From Nobby to Westbrook and everywhere in between, locals ventured out west last Saturday for the first ever Pittsworth Pro Rodeo. The rodeo was a raging success, with more than 3,500 people through the gates and top class action as well as local juniors delighting an all-ages crowd.

When the show scene goes into hibernation over winter in the southern states, the Northern Territory springs into action. The NT has an active show horse community and several top-class shows are run during the dry season, including the Darwin Show Horse Club's State Show Horse and Riding Championships that has just been held at the Darwin Showgrounds.

Playing games on horseback is not just for kids. The 37th World Championships for Adult Mounted Games will be held at Werribee Park from October 8 to 15, with 18 nations competing. Most would know the story of how Mounted Games were created by Prince Philip as a competition for children who could not afford an expensive, purebred pony and that in 1957 the Horse of the Year Show staged the first Mounted Games Championship for the Prince Philip Cup.

On Saturday 8th July a small group of Nhill Auskick registered kids were invited to play at Marvel Stadium; during the halftime match between St Kilda and Melbourne ... Every child was smiling and playing just like their adult idols and you could see the determination on their faces to mark, collect and control the ball and kick to their teammates.

Carl and Marcy Agnew have been  publicans  at the Dog n Bull Hotel in Bonalbo for almost a year ... No one told him about the Bonalbo Bonanza Campdraft tradition. The one where the horses come into the pub.

The boxing club tucked away in a Woodburn laneway was flooded last year ... The Woodburn Amateur Boxing Club has been going since 1989 and a recent grant of $5000 from Richmond Valley Council has meant the club could replace the punching bags, boxing gloves and focus mitts.

Whether you are a coach of a junior sports team, president of a volunteer organisation, manager of a workplace, teacher or parent, an ability to coach and influence others is a life skill. Regional Australia has a long and proud history of coaching and influencing each other. It is how we get through difficult times together.