Andrew Willcox (Dawson, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability) Share this | Hansard source

Mackay has recently proven that, when the regions are given the baton, we don't just run with it; we lead. Earlier this month, the 2026 North Queensland Games brought thousands of athletes to Dawson to compete across 40 different sports. The execution of these games was a gold-medal moment, proving that our local spirit has the stamina to host the world without breaking a sweat. Our regions are match fit for the ultimate big league: the Olympics. Should cricket be confirmed in the 2032 Games, Mackay is positioned as a leading contender. In the hunt for Olympic sailing success, the glistening waters of the Whitsundays would be the ultimate natural stadium for this event. The athletes who are representing us in 2032 will be those competing at regional events, just like the NQ Games. The true power of events like this is found in the hearts of the athletes who clear the hardest and highest hurdles to compete.

On a personal note, I was proud to watch a member of my staff return to the Masters Athletics after facing a brutal battle with cancer. Stepping back into the circle for the first time since chemotherapy, she claimed silver in the hammer throw. It was a true milestone moment, and, for the athletes like her, the bling is brilliant. But the real glory lies in the courage to get back on the field.

I applaud every single athlete who came to Mackay. They didn't just compete; they showed us the very best of our regional spirit, and they proved that the road to 2032 begins in our backyard.

While the North Queensland Games showcased the pinnacle of elite athletic endurance, you haven't seen anything until you've witnessed the high stakes, high drama of the Norm Perry Memorial Duck Race in Ayr. This is ducks for bucks at Plantation Creek. The competition is fierce, the sack races are brutal and the fashions on the field are judged on creativity and style. Forget the Melbourne Cup! The real race that stops the nation happens in the bountiful Burdekin, where duck No. 223 stormed down the creek to take the crown.

Beyond the old-fashioned fun, this timeless tradition floats on regional heart: it's driven by community pride and is a mighty good cause. Every duck in that water was raising vital funds for Ronald McDonald House, supporting families when they need it the most. My hat goes off to the Rotary Club of Ayr for organising another quacking success and proving that regional generosity always makes a massive splash.

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