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 |
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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 |
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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.