By BENNY PIKE
THE Sunshine Coast is really becoming an ant nest for all types of events, and the past few weeks is testament to that. The variety and class of events is a credit to all involved, and magnificently supported by locals. I remember many years ago, in my early days in local tourism, Tewantin’s Rick Cooper was always on the front foot promoting the facts about hosting events. His logic was simple, rain hail or shine, people will come to events, while with holidays quite a few will cancel at the first sight of rain.
Let’s kick start the recent event downpour, music and art lovers from far and wide gathered on the old Horton Park Golf Course for the inaugural Music and Visual Arts Festival. And despite the dark clouds and early rain, thousands gathered on the new amphitheatre venue that attracted the exact demographic the organisers hoped for. About a driver and 4 iron away, hundreds participated in the 10th annual Wishlist Row for Cancer regatta at Cotton-tree.
Terrific result with organisers banking $20,000, taking the 10-year total to just over $200,000 for the Coast cancer sufferers. The pace continued the following weekend, with a major amateur boxing tournament at Mooloolaba, followed up with over 6000 competing in this year’s marathon. Having the pleasure of a long history with Coast sporting events, it has been a pleasure to witness the growth and participation of this Olympics standard race. The fund-raising total isn’t clear as yet, but the major charity is Ronald McDonald House and many subsidiary local groups.
The race organisers will have to make up their minds shortly, as to which direction the event heads, quality or quantity. My suggestion, is quality, with the 2018 Games around the corner. A golden opportunity to lure big name athletes, which, of course, can help the event grow like Sydney’s City to Surf, or even become Australia’s number 1 race. Same weekend and just up the road, Coolum hosted its annual National Motocross Championships. Competitors from Australia and New Zealand did battle over the arduous Quanda Road circuit. Don’t forget all the local winter sports finals wrapping up their season, with Noosa teams figuring prominently – all codes. During this time, I had the pleasure of joining dual international Michael O’Connor in meeting delegates at this month’s Commonwealth Games Assembly in Auckland. The majority of Commonwealth countries were present, and our group had the chance to mix and mingle promoting the Coast and its first-class sporting venues. The mission funded by the Sunshine Coast council, with Michael and I representing the Sports Federation. Our role wasn’t too hard as the majority of delegates are former athletes/officials, and it didn’t take long to get to the point we wanted to make. I am aware Noosa Council has finally joined the local Embracing 2018 Committee, but I suggest it would be a good move to invest and become more active in the 2018’s future actions. Adding to the facility register list would be a great start. Until next time.
