Games

Now known as the Suncorp North Queensland Games, up to 20,000 visitors were expected to descend on Townsville for the carnival. When the Games returned to Townsville, Foundation founder Ken McElligott was State Member for Thuringowa. Ken stated that the “sheer hard work and dedication has ensured that the Games are here to stay.” He praised the efforts of Bob McCullough and Peter Elliott who “headed up” the Foundation in its formative years. He also acknowledged the work of former Executive Director Dale Seaniger, who “did much more than could reasonably be expected of an employee.”

The Games got underway with the opening ceremony on 17 April, with Normie Rowe and Kim Durant performing. Dawn Fraser returned to open the Games for the third time.

One of the biggest dance festivals to be staged in the North was part of the Games, with about 180 dancers competing in the Australian Dancing Board of control regulated event. Future Olympic Gold medal winner, archer Simon Fairweather contested the archery events at the Games - 8 years before he would capture the hearts of the nation at Sydney 2000. Olympic swimmer Nicole Livingston also competed in the Games, with the Australian Institute of Sport releasing her from her schedule to swim in the Games as a means of assisting her outdoor experience prior to the Barcelona Games. Livingston would achieve a Silver Medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Over the weekend of competition, eight hours of Games coverage was broadcast on Sunshine Television. The network’s sport guru and North Queensland Sportstar Awards host, Benny Pike anchored the coverage. During the Games, 8,895 medals were presented. Competition was competitive throughout the Games, and 85 events were conducted smoothly.

For the first time, an accurate list of competitors was recorded. This data showed that 14,572 people competed in the Games, 13,216 from North Queensland, 1,239 from Queensland, 101 from Australia and 16 from overseas.

Peter Elliott resigned from the Chair at the end of 1992 after chairing through three Games.