Hervey Bay loses Queensland Touch Football Junior State Cup in 2023

For the first time in more than a decade a touch tournament that attracted thousands to the Fraser Coast each year will instead be played at another regional city.

Qld Touch Junior State Cup - U/10 Boys Hervey Bay v Rockhampton White. Albert Page (Hervey Bay).

A major Queensland youth sporting event will no longer be held on the Fraser Coast.

The Queensland Touch Football Junior State Cup, which has been hosted in Hervey Bay for the past 12 years, brings thousands of visitors to the region.

Queensland Touch Football CEO Greg Denny announced on Wednesday that the Junior State Cup will be hosted in Rockhampton in 2023, supported by the Rockhampton Regional Council.

“Rockhampton is a heartland for touch football, and we are excited to partner with the Rockhampton Regional Council to host our flagship junior event,” Mr Denny said.

“With its central location, we are hopeful many of our northern affiliates will be drawn to Rocky to attend the tournament, many for the first time, and provide growth opportunities for our event and draw more visitors to the region.

“This event showcases some of the best young talent in touch football and we’re excited about what the region can offer our touch football community.”

In a statement Queensland Touch Football acknowledged the Fraser Coast Regional Council and Hervey Bay Touch Association’s commitment and support over the past 12 years.

BMTA's Jacob Richter. 10 Boys final: BMTA Red def Toowoomba White. Queensland Touch Football's Junior State Cup at Hervey Bay.Photo Matthew McInerney / Fraser Coast Chronicle

Fraser Coast councillor Darren Everard said he wanted to offer his gratitude to the volunteers from Hervey Bay Touch Football Association for their past support and efforts.

“Special mention to Gary Madders for making the event the great success it was from humble beginnings,” he said.

“Back in the early days when the State Cup was looking for a home, Gary teamed up with the volunteers from Hervey Bay Touch Football and did what was required to make the event happen in Hervey Bay.

“It was a complete community effort that included much sweet talking by myself to enlist the help of the business community to look after the rubbish over the event in the early years.

“I would like to acknowledge the Russel Jenkins and the Touch Team who gave up their holidays to make the event happen every year since.

“Events like this don’t happen without the dedication of the volunteers who give up so much to make it happen and for your effort I offer my sincere thanks for your combined efforts.

“We all know events can come and go, we know things happen for a reason and importantly we know we can cater for events of all shapes and sizes now and in the future.”

This year’s Junior State Cup in Hervey Bay was cancelled at the last minute due to wet weather events.

Queensland Touch Football's Junior State Cup in Hervey Bay.

Fraser Coast mayor George Seymour said at the time that the cancellation was not a council decision, and the council was prepared to cop “significant damage” to sporting fields if the competition had gone ahead.

A council spokesman on Wednesday said the region would continue to host multiple large state sporting events.

“We wish Queensland Touch Football all the best with the Junior State Cup carnival in the future, and thank them for bringing the event to Hervey Bay over the past 12 years,” he said.

“Just this year we have hosted school AFL championships and an elite Queensland rugby league game, a schoolboys rugby tournament and a Brisbane Roar training camp and game, to name just a few.

“The Fraser Coast is fast becoming a premier triathlon destination with the Ultra 355, the National Schools Triathlon and the Hervey Bay 100 all held here in recent months.

“Council will continue to work hard to attract more major sporting events to the region, as we recognise that bringing in more visitors brings benefits to our local businesses.

“We will also continue to invite state, national and international teams to the Fraser Coast as part of our focus on growing our local economy and ensuring we have a healthy and active community.”