Games

The 1998 edition was heavily supported in the lead-up by Mackay Regional Council – providing The Foundation with a local office, funding an admin position, and creating a relationship with a media consultant. The 1998 Suncorp North Queensland Games were a great success and hailed as having been professionally and efficiently run.

Held from 10-13 April, large crowds turned out to both the opening and closing ceremonies, in which the benefit of a professional organiser was evident. Games mascot, Pudgy the Platypus was a feature of both events.

42 sports were organised as part of the Games, with around 6,000 people participating in the carnival. The majority of events were held in Mackay, however surrounding shires also hosted some events. Bowen hosted golf, equestrian and touch, Nebo held horse sports, Sarina athletics, Whitsunday swimming and archery and Nebo hosted hang gliding, Masters swimming, western action shooting and mountain biking.

The feature of the Games was a bicycle race held on Easter Saturday. The Suncorp Mackay Cycling Classic, a category one cycle race, carried a $7000 prize pool granted by the Australian Cycling Federation as part of the 1998 National Road Series. The 180 km race went through the Pioneer Valley to Eungella and back. The race was won by Toowoomba cyclist and future Olympian Nathan O’Neill, who was a member of the Australian Institute of Sport team.

Townsville swimmer Penny Bond broke the 1500m Masters World Record at the Games, in a time of 17 minutes and 55.34 seconds, eclipsing the four year old existing record by four seconds. Bond was delighted to have her record acknowledged by FINA, swimming’s world controlling body, as the Games are officially recognised by FINA.

The success of the Games was recognised by the Mackay community when it was voted Event of the Year at the Mackay Regional Tourism Awards.