A Brisbane PR expert was quoted saying Rocky has an image problem – ‘the place you don’t want to end up’. Is this true? Unfortunately I feel there’s some truth to it – the image problem that is. We could ask how Rockhampton got that image. We should ask how we change it. (The answers to the first question may help answer the second). I guess the weather has something to do with the image problem – summer weather. Is Townsville a cooler place though? I don’t hear of such strong image problems about it. What about the other 9 months, especially this time of the year?
Sport is an edge Townsville has over Rockhampton; national Rugby League and Basketball Teams, V8 Supercars round, off shore super boat racing, host city of the Challenge Games. If Townsville had an image problem of being hot, dry and lame it certainly has changed. This is why Rockhampton’s NRL bid is important. In the meantime we need to do more than wait for the outcome. Junior sport should be a focus. Help more of our sporting kids be ambassadors of Rockhampton. Get more junior sports people to visit Rockhampton. Have them and their parents develop their own image of the city. Rockhampton is ideally located to host state sporting events. Our facilities are arguably adequate, but we need to keep investing in them and market them to attract junior events.
Next week Rockhampton Regional Tennis Centre is hosting 300 players competing in the State Age Titles. However, if nothing is done about the rust in the courts holding this event in the future is at risk. Netball courts are another issue. Can more be done to protect the Touch and Football fields from hoons ripping them up? Opportunities to bring professional sports people to the city to help inspire and advise our juniors need to be taken. Unfortunately most of our sporting clubs have one thing in common, they struggle financially.
If we want to address the image of Rockhampton, investing in junior sport can deliver returns on many levels. This is a call to Council, businesses and individuals. Even offering to volunteer your help, advice or time will make a difference, a difference to not only the sporting organisations, but Rockhampton’s image.