Games

The 1990 edition was held in Mackay for the first time, completing the first rotation of The Games through the major regions of North Queensland.

Suncorp supported the Games by way of a $50,000 sponsorship, an increase in sponsorship and continuing to support the Games as the company had since its inception. A competition was run to find a new Games mascot, following a rabbit in Townsville, lizard in Mount Isa and a cassowary in Cairns. Spike the echidna was chosen from over 90 entries and was well-loved by spectators over the weekend.

In the theme of approaching Mackay with different offerings ahead of the event, organisers arranged a NQ Games Sportsman’s Dinner in May of 1989 – Test Cricketer Alan Davidson the keynote speaker. Davidson voiced his praise of the Games concept, and was admiring of the philosophy that participation was just as important as winning. The Mackay City Council was excited about hosting the Games, believing that the carnival would be the largest event in its sporting history.

Competition was rain-affected, yet despite this 15,000 turned out to compete in the 64 events. Once again the accuracy of competitor numbers is in doubt but regardless of this, the turnout was a thrill to organisers. Competitors came primarily from North Queensland; however the Mackay Games saw an increase in support from the country areas of Queensland, Brisbane, interstate and overseas. Delegations from Western Australia, Victoria and the Northern Territory visited the Games in an effort to gain an insight into finding a means of conducting a similar event in their home states.

Beneath blue skies and in calm conditions, more that 300 people watched Mackay claim victory in the Surf Lifesaving carnival, one of the most popular spectator events of the Games.

Former Mackay resident and international tennis player Nicole Pratt travelled north to compete in the tennis tournament held at the Harrup Park court. Future 4x Olympic Track and Field athlete Benita Willis was a junior competitor at the Mackay Games.

An issue to arise in 1991, following the completion of the first rotation of Games around the four major centres of North Queensland, was the idea of permanently holding the Games in Townsville. This idea of centralising the Games had long been brewing, the Foundation even deciding to base themselves out of an office in Townsville.

At the Board meeting in May 1991, The Foundation very nearly voted to centralise all further iterations of the Games in Townsville. This decision was avoided at the last possible moment, with a formal motion to centralise dismissed after representatives of both Cairns and Townsville Councils agreed to permanently rotate the event to provide equitable opportunity across the collective North Queensland.