Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke joined thousands of students, parents, and teachers from Canberra and across NSW at the 2023 Boorowa Touch & Netball Carnival today.
Ms Cooke said the event showcased the exceptional sportsmanship and talent of the more than 4,500 young athletes, who travelled from far and wide to compete in the more than 870 games staged during the event, which has been running in various formats for almost 60 years.
“This is the first time the carnival has been held since 2019, after COVID-19 and flooding put a stop to the competition in recent years. But it is certainly back bigger and better than ever, and is a wonderful event on the local sporting calendar,” Ms Cooke said.
“It was my first time at the carnival and I was so impressed by the skills and dedication on display, and I congratulate all the competitors who took part and made it such a great event,” she said.
Ms Cooke said the cheers and support from the thousands of spectators gathered on the sidelines, added to the atmosphere.
“I want to give a special shout-out also to the teachers, parents, and volunteers who all worked so hard and went that extra mile to help stage this huge event. Many helpers no longer have school-age children participating in the carnival, but offer their time every year to lend a hand, which is lovely to see,” Ms Cooke said.
“I had a lot of fun helping out in the canteen, which was an absolute hive of activity, catering for the thousands in attendance. The barbeque certainly got a workout, with 2,000 sausages cooked and sold, along with 1,000 steak sandwiches, 1,000 hot dogs, 1,000 bacon & egg rolls, and an incredible 6,000 Zooper Doopers!
“I’d like to acknowledge too the contribution of local businesses in making the day the success that it was, including Peta Jenkins at IGA Boorowa, IGA Young, IGA Yass, Boorowa Bakery, Ziems Quality Meats in Harden, and Woolworths bakery in Young, who answered a distress call from organisers and baked 170 loaves of bread on short notice, after the original bread supplier couldn’t make the delivery deadline.
“The success of this event highlights the importance of community engagement in fostering the growth and development of our young athletes, and I certainly look forward to cheering everyone on again next year,” she said.
