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COMMUNITY SPORTING ENDEAVOURS

It's no secret that sporting is a large part of Australia's culture, and the outback is no different!


We asked our team to share some insight into the the sports they play and what's on offer in the local communities - and it turns out, we're a sporty bunch covering it all!

 

Michael Williams, Principal Cultural Heritage Officer & Associate

Community

Barcaldine

Sports played in the community

Basketball, Cricket, Tennis, Golf, Touch Footy, and more.

Any sporting memories or achievements

  • Coaching Barcaldine junior basketball teams in the 2020 Best Out West tournament in Emerald

  • Beating Longreach in intertown senior basketball matches

  • Beating the teachers in the Barcaldine Engineers vs Teachers basketball match

  • GBA winning the best dressed award at the 2020 Super Sixes Cricket tournament

  • Playing intertown cricket against Longreach, Tambo, and Rolleston

  • Climbing the seeds in the local tennis comp to play with/against the great Lionel Walsh

  • Getting a (single) win in touch footy

  • Commando Steve Bootcamp organised by Lina Life Fitness (my wife Halina Williams’ business) & Outback Futures




Coach Michael with Barcaldine's junior basketball team for Best Out West, 2020







 




Engineers vs Teachers Basketball Match







 


GBA's Super Six Team, 2020






 



Commando Steve Bootcamp






 

Izzy Gavel, Cultural Heritage & Environmental Officer

Community

Barcaldine

Sports played in the community

Netball and Touch Footy, just started social rowing at the ski park

Any sporting memories or achievements

In 2021, I participated in the Barcy Triathlon and the Blackall Triathlon (coming in 3rd), both of these were doing the Sprint distance. I also took part in the Winton Trail run which was a 12km run as part of the Winton Outback festival. In July 2021, I was suppose to run the Gold Coast marathon but it got cancelled due to COVID so I ran the virtual marathon in Barcy. Every so often I’ll travel to Longreach for their Saturday morning Parkrun and I have just signed myself up for the Simpson Desert Ultramarathon (50km trail run) which is held the first weekend of June in Birdsville. Also planning on running the Sunshine Coast marathon later this year.





Izzy's virtual marathon course map in Barcy following the cancellation of the Gold Coast marathon








 

Izzy participating in the "Better in Blackall" Triathlon

 

Darren Richardson, Partner

Community

Rockhampton

Sports played in the community

​Basketball, Rugby League and Cricket

Any sporting memories or achievements

  • Represented Australia in U18 Basketball 1988

  • National U18 Basketball Champions 1988

  • Australian Universtiy Basketball team 1991,1993

  • Rockhampton Rockets Player and Captain 1988-2008

  • National Club Basketball Champions 2008

  • Assistant coach Rockhampton Rockets 2009 to Present.

 

Leanne Patterson, Associate & Senior Engineer

Community

Barcaldine

Sports played in the community

Netball and Touch football, on the committee for both. Previously played tennis as well.

Any sporting memories or achievements

My team won the netball competition 2 out of 3 years since I have been here. I also represented Barcaldine in a netball competition day at Hughenden where we played multiple games with no subs due to illness and injury – exhausting but a fun day out! Also organised a mixed netball comp last year which was very entertaining both to play in and to watch.


I like that quite a few of the sports competitions in town serve dinner so it makes your night a bit easier. And that the community gets behind the teams for things like football, travelling to the other towns when they have away games for support.

 

Brian Duffy & Gideon Breytenbach, Civil Engineers

Community

Emerald

Sports played in the community

Park Run

Any sporting memories or achievements

​Gideon and Brian participate in the 5km Park Run most Saturday mornings at the Emerald Botanical Gardens.


Brian says: "You could add that our achievement is that neither of us can beat the super fit 75 year old park runner each week, sad but true!"




Park Run with a view at the Emerald Botanical Gardens













 

A huge range of sports is one of the many community offerings all over central west Queensland - it's a fun way to meet others and make friendships in a regional community. If you're thinking about making the move to the central west, find out more about our career opportunities here.

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