Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

During the Queensland school holidays, Rockhampton was the place to be, with our population swelling by over 21,000 people as the region played host to three major sporting events. We welcomed the 45th Confraternity Carnival, the Queensland touch football junior state championships and the Hockey Country Championships. These events transformed Rockhampton into a sporting powerhouse.

The Confraternity Carnival brought 1,300 of Queensland's best high-school rugby league players to town. It was thrilling to watch the future stars compete with such passion. Congratulations to Rockhampton's own Cathedral College girls team for taking out the girls shield, and a special mention goes to Mackay's St Patrick's College for winning the boys title. The Queensland junior state cup touch football championships saw more than 4,000 players battling it out across our fields. Our local teams rose to the challenge, with Rockhampton's under-14 girls and under-14 boys both winning their divisions, an outstanding effort. With Hockey legends like Jamie Dwyer and Mark Knowles hailing from Rockhampton, it was only fitting that the Hockey Country Championships were held in our city, drawing over 2,000 players and visitors.

These events didn't just bring excitement to the field; they delivered a major economic boost to our region. Our hotels were booked solid, and our cafes, pubs and restaurants were buzzing with activity. Well done to all the competitors and congratulations to the winners. You've done your teams and our region proud.

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